Bribery allegations have emerged over the return of John Ntoiti at City Hall, this time as the new director of revenue.
Ntoiti returned after the retirement of Shaban Asman and just like many other officers, will serve in acting capacity.
Ntoiti, 53, is known for his vast experience in revenue matters and has worked at City Hall before as the Chief Officer, director sub-county and was appointed to chair revenue mobilization in 2006.
He worked in Meru after being appointed head of the revenue under former governor Kiraitu Murungi.
However, controversy reigns over circumstances under which he quickly got appointed in acting capacity with the county overlooking experienced officers in the department.
A staff member who spoke on request of anonymity claims Mr Ntoiti pushed through his return after meeting key leaders at the Nairobi City County Assembly at a City Hotel.
The meeting as per our source was also attended by acting County Secretary Patrick Analo.
It is not clear whether Finance County Executive Committee Member Charles Kerich who announced the appointment was part of the meeting but some of his close friends at the finance department were present as confirmed separately by an MCA privy to the resolutions of the meeting.
The county is currently under sharp criticism over the status of revenue collection and Ntoit’s appointment comes at a time when it is in the process of transitioning its revenue operations to the Nairobi Revenue Authority that will begin its full operations this year.
Revenue collection in Nairobi was handled by the Kenya Revenue Authority from 2019 to early this year after the county got back functions that had been transferred to the national government.
The return of Ntoiti raises pertinent questions among them whether he resigned from his position before going to Meru.
This is after it emerged that he went all the way to the Public Service Commission where he made ‘unknown complaints’ over his tenure at City Hall.
The Public Service Commission is aid to have written to the County Public Service board over Ntoit’s situation.
An agitated officer at the county said he will personally write to the EACC to probe circumstances under which Ntoiti was appointed and claims to have bribery evidence.
Ntoit’s return also opens the lid on other officers who are believed to have been holding more than one or two positions.
Former County Secretary Jairus Musumba who is currently ‘shortlisted’ for five different Chief Officer Positions for the chief officer. He is currently the chief ‘burrows’, the position is currently held by another person.
Musumba is currently a director in the health department and also serving in a different positions in the burrows department.
Acting County Secretary Analo on his part as revealed by our source never resigned as the director indoor advertising despite having been in charge of the planning department.
Analo has been on the spot by both county officers and the public over what appears to be sanctioning of unilateral decisions that are hampering service delivery and putting the officers at the risk of losing the careers.
He is believed to have received half a million to okay the appointment of Ntoiti.
Analo and Chief Officer Finance Asha Abdi have been working together and the county staff who talked to us says the two are willing to orchestrate the removal of anyone who dares stand their way.
This comes hot on the heels of reports that Mr Analo has also been asked by the chairman County Public Service Board Thomas Kasoa who complained to his office about sector heads assigning duties to officers outside their appointed substantive positions.
The county has also been battling cases of arbitrary suspensions and reinstatements in what has for many years been the norm when there is a need to swindle taxpayers money.
For instance, Ward Development Fund Chief Executive Officer Josephine Kithu was forcefully ejected out of office, sent on forced leave then redeployed but with no official communication.
As established by the County Assembly Labour Committee, the CEO was removed and another person hastily appointed in an acting capacity. She was thrown out on July 14 under the watch of constables from the county inspectorate.
Despite her compulsory leave ending on 30th September, 2023 and subsequently redeployed to the finance department to no particular officer, the officer has been reporting to work and working from the corridors.
Engineer Eston Kimathi is the person who was appointed to replace her despite not having been vetted nor appointed by the Public Service Board which has the mandate to appoint persons to hold or act in office.
As established by the labor committee, Kithu wrote to the County Secretary explaining how she was forcefully ejected from office during the July 14 incident. She received a letter, dated June 13, directing her to report to the County Executive Member for Finance.
The letter said the officer was supposed to be assigned other duties on the Finance docket. However, this has never happened despite reporting to work daily.
City Hall has been on the spot for various negative approaches among them county staff being accused of corruption allegations and misuse of office.
The officers are Finance Executive Charles Kerich, Head of Procurement Richard Mogaka.
Others are, Ambrose Musau, Vivian Mavua, Beth Muthoni, Denis Muia, Brian Oyando, Kevin Musamia, the officers have gained massive from corruption dealings. Musamia’s main clients are suppliers and contractors from the Somali community and a few Kikuyus, he is currently building state-of-the-art-house.
Stephen Mafura and easy panty remover Mary Maina Wangui -girlfriend to former acting county secretary Jairus Musumba are also on police radar.
The county staff have been accused of colluding with suppliers to mint millions of money in supply of hot-air.
Among the companies includes, Buko investments being operated by Mohammed Ibrahim Siyad among others.
