Boniface Nyamu, a controversial Nairobi County official, is rapidly becoming a symbol of unchecked corruption and impunity, wreaking havoc on both the city’s transport and bar licensing sectors. Nyamu, who was transferred from his role as Chief Officer of the Mobility Ministry to the Business and Hustler Opportunities docket, has expanded his corrupt practices, harassing bar owners and matatu operators alike with demands for bribes. Despite Governor Johnson Sakaja’s public promise to rid the city of cartels through his clarion call “Lazima iWork”, Nyamu’s actions are directly undermining these efforts.
Bar and nightclub owners along major roads like Kiambu, Thika, and Langata have come forward with complaints of extortion, with many alleging that Nyamu, backed by City Inspectorate official Mr. Busienei (alias “Bush”), is exploiting his position in charge of liquor licensing. “Our businesses contribute to Nairobi’s economy through jobs, taxes, and licenses,” stated Captain Maina, a representative of the bar owners. “Nyamu’s actions, if unchecked, could collapse many livelihoods. Governor Sakaja must act decisively.”
Nyamu has built a notorious reputation, reportedly issuing backdated documents to legitimize illegal activities in the transport sector. Despite his transfer out of the Mobility Ministry, he continues to allocate more than 300 new matatu pick-up and drop-off points within Nairobi’s CBD, even creating stages in areas previously free from the chaos of public transport, such as Upper Hill and City Hall roundabout. Nyamu’s power grab has extended beyond his department, with insiders alleging that his corrupt activities are facilitated by political protection from Deputy Governor Njoroge Muchiri.
The situation is becoming untenable as frustrated matatu Saccos that wish to operate legitimately are increasingly overshadowed by Nyamu’s corrupt network, which favors cartels willing to pay hefty bribes. “We can’t keep operating in fear of arbitrary shutdowns unless we comply with Nyamu’s illegal demands,” stated a representative from a prominent matatu Sacco. “We want to follow the law, but he’s made it impossible.”
Adding fuel to the fire, rumors have emerged of Nyamu’s alignment with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, suggesting that he may be part of a larger scheme to sabotage Governor Sakaja’s decongestion efforts in the city. As tensions between Gachagua and Sakaja escalate over the relocation of matatus from the CBD, some Nairobians are speculating that Nyamu’s continued corruption could be a political maneuver to undermine Sakaja’s administration.
With the growing unrest, Nairobi residents are calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Governor Sakaja to take swift and decisive action. Despite his transfer to a new docket, Nyamu’s activities continue to foster disorder in Nairobi’s vital sectors, threatening both the city’s economic stability and its residents’ trust in county leadership.
Governor Sakaja, whose administration campaigned on the promise to clean up Nairobi and make the city work for all, now faces a critical test. His response to Nyamu’s corruption scandal could determine whether the governor is truly committed to uprooting the cartels that have long plagued the city, or if rogue officials like Nyamu will be allowed to continue profiting from Nairobi’s dysfunction.
Nyamu’s bold disregard for the Liquor Licensing Board regulations, chaired by respected businessman Mike Rabar, and his continuous issuing of letters authorizing illegal matatu operations, suggests that he feels untouchable. However, the escalating protests from bar owners, transport operators, and even his own staff, who have complained of bullying and harassment, signal that the time for action is now.
Nairobi’s future hangs in the balance as Governor Sakaja is urged to honor his promise and hold accountable those who are eroding the gains his administration has made. Nyamu, once confined to corruption within the transport sector, has reinvented his illegal practices in his new role. Without urgent intervention, his grip on Nairobi’s economy and governance will only tighten, jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands and derailing efforts to make Nairobi work.
