A section of Nairobi MCAs have asked the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to investigate Acting Governor Anne Kananu over her alleged involvement in a multi-billion insurance scandal.
The MCAs urged the investigative bodies to probe Kananu and other county government officials alleged to have authorised an overpayment of Ksh 652 million to an insurance firm in Nairobi.
The MCAs based their allegations on a report by the Auditor General which indicated that City Hall has been paying the insurance firm Ksh 1.73 billion rather than Ksh 1.07 billion since 2018. The report added that the Nairobi County headquarters had failed to give an explanation.
"We have seen the executive playing games with the health cover of staff, and the county has lost 29 staff members because they could not access the medical cover. Some county officials are trying to make money from the scheme," Waithaka Ward MCA Anthony Kiragu claimed.
The MCAs further alleged that cartels in the county were benefiting from the funds at the cost of city workers.
Kananu, however, claimed that the allegations were being fronted by MCAs allied to former Governor Mike Sonko who are out to cripple the county and her reign.
She added that their claims were baseless and that they lacked evidence that would warrant an investigation.
Kananu took over as Deputy Governor (DG) in January 2021 in a controversial vetting exercise.
Her swearing-in as DG halted planned gubernatorial elections from taking place, with critics alleging that the government orchestrated her entry into power.
Kananu's opponents had argued that she was ineligible for office as Sonko, his nominator, had ceased to be governor. She later on ascended to the role of Acting Governor after Speaker Benson Mutura's temporary stint as acting county boss expired.
The DG has expressed her intention to run for governor in 2022.
" I will be vying in 2022. For those who think I am only here for a little while, I am telling them that I am here to stay. We shall face off," she declared during a function on Friday, March 26 further pledging to work with the Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS).
It was alleged that Sonko was ousted from office for frustrating NMS which is led by General Mohamed Badi. NMS took over the county's health, transport, public works, ancillary and planning services when Sonko signed the deed of transfer in February 2020.
