A section of Nairobi Members of County Assembly (MCAs) has raised concerns over what they describe as a selective investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) into alleged corruption within the county’s Planning Department.
Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Lindi Ward MCA Ochieng Jera said they support the ongoing anti-corruption drive and the arrest of county officials implicated in graft. However, he questioned the omission of certain senior officers whom he claimed played a central role in the department’s operations.
“We commend the government and the DCI for taking swift action against corruption. Those found culpable should be taken to court and prosecuted. However, we are concerned that some key individuals appear to have been left out of the investigations,” Jera said.
The MCA singled out Deputy Director of Planning Frederic Ochanda, alleging that he has been heavily involved in the management of the department and in the processing of critical documents over the years.
According to Jera, Ochanda wielded significant influence within the department and allegedly signed documents while bypassing senior officials. He questioned why the officer’s name had not featured among those summoned or arrested by investigators.
“We are shocked that his name has been omitted. He has been at the centre of the running of the Planning Department for years. We want to know who omitted his name and why,” he said.
Jera further alleged that several junior officers who had little involvement in approvals, payments, or decision-making processes had instead been targeted by investigative agency.
He called on the DCI to ensure that investigations focus on individuals directly involved in approving documents, processing payments, and making key decisions that may have led to the loss of public funds.
“As MCAs, our role is oversight. We want investigations that identify the real people behind any wrongdoing and not innocent officers who had no authority over approvals or payments,” he added
“We expected the county executive committee member Patrick Mbogo and the former South C MCA Osman Khalif (Governor Johnson Sakaja’s aide) to be on the top list as the accounting officers plus their direct involvement.”
The MCA warned against what he termed the misuse of investigative agencies for political interests, insisting that all those involved in any alleged looting of county resources should face the law regardless of their position.
Jera said the MCAs would raise the matter at the county assembly, arguing that there were indications that some influential figures could be shielding individuals from scrutiny.
Echoing the concerns, fellow MCA Abel Atito claimed the investigations appeared to be targeting junior staff while overlooking officers responsible for releasing and approving planning documents.
“We support the investigations and arrests, but they should not be selective. Officers who are directly responsible for approvals and the release of documents should also be investigated,” Atito said.
He argued that some employees tasked with administrative duties such as recording minutes had been listed among those under investigation, while individuals with greater authority remained untouched.
The MCAs called on the DCI to widen the scope of its probe to ensure all officers linked to the alleged irregularities are held accountable.
The DCI had recently launched investigations into alleged corruption within sections of Nairobi County, leading to the arrest and questioning of several county officials as part of a broader anti-graft crackdown.
