A video shared by Francis Gaitho on X shows Geoffrey Mosiria, the Nairobi Chief Environmental Officer, being chased away and forced to hide in a truck after trying to join William Ruto’s entourage in Kamukunji.
The scene was a perfect example of how Nairobi residents have had enough of dishonest government officials. Mosiria has been parading himself as a champion of environmental justice, but the truth is that his actions have only made life harder for Nairobians.
His online self-righteousness is nothing but a cover for the corrupt and oppressive practices he has been imposing on businesses and ordinary residents.
For months, Nairobi business owners, especially bar and club operators, have been complaining about Mosiria’s extortion schemes. He has allegedly turned his office into a personal cash machine, demanding bribes from business owners under the pretense of environmental compliance.
Those who refuse to pay up are either shut down or endlessly harassed by county enforcement officers acting on his instructions. Many bar owners say they have been forced to pay ridiculous amounts just to be allowed to operate, yet they meet all legal requirements.
Instead of using his office to create an environment where businesses thrive while still maintaining environmental standards, Mosiria has allegedly weaponized regulations to enrich himself. His shady dealings extend beyond bars. Small traders in various parts of Nairobi have also accused him of running a cartel that demands payments for “environmental clearance.” Vendors, hawkers, and shop owners have faced harassment from county officials claiming to enforce environmental laws, only for them to turn around and demand bribes to look the other way.
Those who refuse to comply are either fined heavily or have their businesses shut down arbitrarily. The level of frustration among Nairobians has reached a boiling point, and that is why Mosiria was met with hostility in Kamukunji.
People no longer believe in his online grandstanding about integrity when his actions tell a different story.
Beyond extortion, Mosiria has been linked to questionable deals in waste management, where companies tied to powerful individuals are given lucrative contracts while genuine service providers are sidelined.
Nairobi’s garbage collection crisis has worsened under his watch because money meant for proper waste management allegedly ends up in the pockets of a few well-connected individuals. Residents have to deal with overflowing dumpsites and uncollected garbage because Mosiria and his associates are more interested in cutting deals than solving problems.
This is why his presence in Kamukunji was unwelcome people are tired of leaders who pretend to serve the public while actually exploiting them.The humiliation he faced is only a reflection of the anger Nairobians feel. His role in the county government should be about making life better for residents, but instead, he has turned it into an avenue for personal gain.
His theatrics on social media cannot erase the suffering he has caused to business owners, traders, and ordinary citizens. Nairobians are watching, and they have made it clear that they will not be fooled by empty words. Mosiria’s downfall is inevitable because the people have had enough.
