There is growing concern in Nairobi over the actions of Geoffrey Mosiria, a county official who has taken it upon himself to enforce rules in a highly public and personal way.
Videos circulating online show him confronting residents, ordering them to pick up rubbish as punishment for not using footbridges or for using mobile phones while crossing roads. These scenes have divided public opinion, with some praising the strict approach while others see it as overreach.
Ephraim Njenga has spoken out strongly against these methods. He argues that Mosiria has turned himself into a one-man law enforcement operation without the proper authority.
Nairobi County already employs enforcement officers whose job it is to handle such matters. When an official steps outside those clear roles and starts issuing punishments on the spot, it crosses into abuse of power.
The practice of recording people during these encounters raises further problems. Privacy laws require consent before filming individuals in such situations.
Doing so without permission leaves Mosiria open to legal challenges. Equally worrying is the demand that people collect rubbish without any protective equipment.
This exposes them to sharp objects, dirt, and possible disease. City bylaws and basic human rights standards exist to prevent exactly this kind of risk.
In any functioning system, a person accused of an offence must go through proper channels. That means being informed of the charge, having a chance to respond, and facing a formal process if needed.
Acting as the accuser, the judge, and the person handing out the penalty all at once ignores due process. It treats adult citizens like schoolchildren being scolded by a headmaster.
Such behaviour does not strengthen the rule of law; it weakens it.
Some residents may feel that strict action is needed because ordinary enforcement has failed. Yet fighting disorder by breaking the rules oneself is not a solution. Micromanaging the streets in this manner does not build lasting order.
It creates resentment and invites court cases that could damage Mosiria’s own future. Leadership requires following the same standards one expects from others.
Public safety and clean streets matter, but they cannot come at the cost of rights and proper procedure. The current approach risks more harm than good and should be re-examined before the legal consequences arrive.
