Nairobi: 1st July, Kitisuru MCA faces ouster as crackdown on ‘ incompetent’ committee chairs begins in Nairobi
Kitisuru Member of County Assembly Alvina Olando Palapala could be the first casualty of the planned ouster of committee chairpersons deemed incompetent and compromised at the Nairobi City County Assembly.
This is after members of the Planning and Housing Committee initiated a vote of no confidence against the legislator, accusing him of failing to provide effective oversight over a department facing mounting corruption allegations and criticism over illegal developments.
The Transport and Health Committees are also expected to follow suit with the whips of the assembly expected to reshuffle membership of all the sectoral committees.
It’s PalaPala’s case that has attracted attention,with the MCA battling allegations of incompetence and self seeking ventures as the committee chair.
A notice for a vote of no confidence, dated June 23 and received by the offices of the Clerk and the Speaker on Tuesday, invokes Standing Order 190(2) and seeks Mr Palapala’s removal from the helm of one of the Assembly’s most influential oversight committees.
The committee, which oversees the Department of Built Environment and Urban Planning, plays a critical role in scrutinising planning approvals, land use policies, housing programmes and development control in the capital.
MCAs backing the motion accuse the chairperson of presiding over what they describe as weak oversight at a time when the planning department has come under intense scrutiny following allegations of corruption, irregular approval of developments and concerns over building safety.
According to the notice, the committee failed to effectively hold the county executive to account despite widespread public concern over the management of Nairobi’s planning function.
“The failure has compromised the integrity of the Assembly and undermined the committee’s constitutional mandate to exercise oversight over county executive organs,” the motion states.
The members further cite investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into alleged irregularities in the Urban Planning Department, arguing that the Assembly committee did not respond adequately to issues raised regarding accountability within the sector.
The notice also references the county government’s recent suspension of the Executive Urban Planning Committee and the decision to audit recently approved developments following allegations of irregular approvals.
Among the grounds cited is the committee’s handling of a petition on zoning regulations and alleged illegal developments that was tabled before the Assembly in July last year.
The members claim the committee’s report attracted criticism on the floor of the House, with several MCAs questioning whether it had sufficiently addressed concerns raised by petitioners.
According to the motion, the committee leadership was unable to satisfactorily defend the report during debate and later sought to withdraw it, a move the proponents say reflected shortcomings in the committee’s work.
The motion also raises concerns over alleged manipulation of the Nairobi Planning and Development Management System (NPDMS), claiming engineers informed the committee that weaknesses in the digital approval platform had forced developers to pursue manual approvals, allegedly creating opportunities for bribery and extortion.
It further cites concerns reportedly raised by the Institution of Engineers of Kenya over delays and loopholes in Nairobi’s building approval process, arguing that the committee failed to initiate investigations or recommend corrective measures despite the warnings.
The members behind the motion also link weak oversight to a series of illegal developments across the city, including the collapse of a multi-storey building in South C, where investigations reportedly established that additional floors had been constructed beyond the approved plans.
They argue that the committee did not adequately investigate the circumstances surrounding such approvals or recommend disciplinary action against officers responsible.
If adopted, the motion would trigger a leadership change in a committee that sits at the centre of Nairobi’s planning and development agenda, at a time when public confidence in the sector has been shaken by allegations of corruption and unsafe construction.
The notice for removal is expected to be considered by the Assembly in the coming days.