Erick Ludeya

Nairobi Members of County Assembly have censured the Chief Officer for Housing and Urban Renewal Ms.Lydia Mathia.

The legislators on Tuesday issued a stern warning to Governor Johnson Sakaja’s executive officers as they joined hands to censure the Chief Officer.

They claim that Lydia illegally orchestrated and oversaw the eviction of residents from County-owned houses located in Old Ngara, New Ngara, Kariokor, Buru Buru, Kariobangi, Woodley and other County Estates on the basis of alleged rent arrears.

The censure motion moved by Ngara Member of County Assembly Chege Mwaura means that the assembly has technically cut links with her and may find it difficult to conduct her businesses.

She was censured for gross misconduct, abuse of office, violation of human rights, and violation of court orders.

The MCAs also declared her unfit to hold public office within the Nairobi City County Government or any other public service

According to Chege Mwaura,the officer violated the provisions of chapter Six (6) of the Constitution,the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 and the Public Officer Ethics Act, 2003 which provides f the conduct of State and Public Officers, and the accountable exercise of power and responsibility assigned to State and public officers.

“The said eviction process was conducted in a cruel, dehumanizing, and degrading manner, in violation of the residents’ constitutional rights to human dignity, security, housing, and property, and put the lives and safety of the affected individuals and the wider estate community at risk,” part of the motion of reads.

Ms. Lydia Mathia was initially appointed by the Governor as the County Chief Officer responsible for Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service Sub-Sector.

She got into trouble when the county on 6 th May 2025, served demand notices to various residents within the said estates, demanding substantial sums of money in alleged rent arrears.

MCAs from the respective wards together with the affected tenants claim the county did not provide a breakdown of the specific months or years in which the arrears were accrued.

“The said Demand Notices were in complete violation of Gazette Notice No. 2728 dated 19th March 2021, in which the Nairobi City County Government had issued a permanent waiver of house rent arrears accrued up to 30th April 2019 and directed that tenants pay rent only from 1st May 2019 going forward,” Chege explained further

The residents as per the motion had complied by initiating payment of post-waiver rent arrears, and further won a Conservatory Order issued by the Environment and Land Court in Petition No. ELCLPET/E038/2025 on 30th May 2025, staying any eviction pending hearing and determination of the petition.

The MCAs wondered why Ms. Mathia, nonetheless proceeded to deploy unknown and unauthorized individuals (“goons”) to enforce the evictions.

They have directed that the Nairobi City County Assembly and its Committees shall not transact any business with Ms. Lydia Mathia in her current capacity or any other public capacity.

They have also recommended that the Nairobi City County Public Service Board immediately commences disciplinary proceedings against Ms. Lydia Mathia with a view to her removal from office.