The Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Geoffrey Mosiria, has denied the ongoing allegations that he was attacked, roughed up, and robbed in Kamukunji, Nairobi.
In a video making the rounds on social media and seen by Kenyans.co.ke, it was alleged that the vocal leader had been roughed up and even robbed by rowdy youths in Kamukunji and was forced to seek asylum in a police truck.
The angry youth could be heard heckling the city leader while warning him that he would surrender the money he had allegedly collected from bars during his night raids.
'Leo umepatikana, leo kimekuramba, ile pesa unaokotanga kwa bar leo unatuwachia, which loosely translates to, (Today you have been caught; today you will give us the money you usually collect from bars)," one of the youths who had climbed on the truck alleged.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Mosiria denied being attacked or roughed up by the youths. He revealed that he was going to give a clear explanation of what had happened and why he was on the police truck.
''Yes, I will do a clarification; I wasn’t roughed up; I was not robbed in Kamukunji," Mosiria told Kenyans.co.ke.
According to Mosiria, he was actively engaging with a group of young people who approached him seeking job opportunities. He took the opportunity to encourage them to apply for the ClimateWorx program, which was set to be launched by the president.
However, chaos ensued when two of the youths asked him to buy them lunch. Although he attempted to help by offering Ksh2,000, more youths quickly crowded around, also demanding cash.
Observing that the youths were becoming a handful, NYS officers who were at the scene offered to keep him in the truck until the youth calmed. He blamed an MP for taking the video and editing the audio to claim he was being attacked.
''It’s unfortunate that someone went as far as editing the video and hiring bloggers to push a false narrative to mislead the public,'' Mosiria revealed.
Mosiria has been very vocal in the leadership of Nairobi County. In his capacity as the Nairobi County Chief Officer for Environment, Mosiria has been conducting many raids in places that do not follow the regulations of the city.
Mosiria occasionally frequents bars, churches, and construction sites to ensure that they follow health rules like those on noise pollution and health safety, among others. He has also been on the frontlines, regulating the hawkers and matatus in town and issuing directives and warnings.
While his work receives praise from other Nairobi residents, others don't exactly agree with him.
The latest directive he gave was a caution to Nairobi residents living along riparian land, advising them to move even as the long rains continue to avoid repercussions from the floods that occur in the city during rains.
"The rains have started, so be careful and ensure that the drainage system around your residential area is free of garbage and unclogged. Those who live near the river should move 30 meters away on both sides," Mosiria said in a night advisory on Friday.
