Majority of the CCTV cameras installed within the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) are not working, an audit report presented to the Nairobi County Assembly has exposed.
The Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday heard that a total of 42 cameras installed by the defunct Metropolitan Ministry in 2012 were out of commission due to poor maintenance.
Nairobi County Transport and Infrastructure acting Chief Officer Frederick Karanja told the committee that the Sh437 Million cameras were never officially handed over by the now inoperative ministry.
"After they were installed, the cameras were operational for a while but as of today, I can confirm no camera is working due to lack of maintenance.
[caption caption="File image of traffic under CCTV cameras along Kenyatta Avenue, Nairobi"]
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"City Hall is unable to repair and maintain the cameras because some systems are still under lock and key. If the Government can officially hand it over to the county then we will be able to include it in our budget," Mr Karanja observed.
The Standard further reported that there is a stand-off between the county government and the national government over who should take up responsibility for the multi-million surveillance gadgets.
Members of County Assembly (MCAs) were shocked at the discovery and raised concerns over the security risks posed by the apparent breach.
Citing the death of former Kabete MP George Muchai, Karen MCA David Mberia regretted that the cameras were decommissioned stating that they could have helped solve the mysterious murder.
"It is sad that up to date we do not know who killed Muchai. Perhaps if the cameras were operational we could have known who the MP’s killers are," Mberia regretted.
The committee was also told that a control room set up at City Hall was also retired and officers stationed there withdrawn.
[caption caption="File image of contractors inspecting CCTV cameras within Nairobi"]
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"It is very worrying that Nairobians continue to operate thinking the cameras are operational yet that is not the case. This matter should be urgently resolved to ensure residents are safe," PAC Chairman Wilfred Odalo stated.
Karanja, however, noted that the cameras installed by Safaricom were still operational but exclusively used by the police.
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