Nairobi City Council
Encyclopedia
The Nairobi City Council is the local authority governing the city of Nairobi
, Kenya
. It is the largest of the 175 local Authorities in the country and is under direction of the Ministry of Local Government.
The Chief Executive of the City Council is the Town Clerk and is appointed by the Minister of Local Government. The Non executive branch of the Council is headed by the Mayor. The Towne Clerk oversees the functions of 17 main and 4 sub committees whose members are City Councillors. Each committee is chaired by one Councilor. The committees meet at scheduled meetings and adopt proposals by consensus. The proposals then pass through a full Council for review. Proposals can only be approved as Council Resolutions by the Minister for Local Government having been reviewed by the full Council.1
The main offices of the Nairobi City Council are located at City Hall Plaza on City Hall Way. City Hall was constructed in the 1950s. At that time it was the tallest building in Nairobi with its clock tower standing at 165 ft high. The building was expanded in 1981 with the addition of the 13 storey City Hall Annex.
1. Director - Public Health Department
2. Director - City Inspectorate Department
3. Director- Environment Department
4. Director Environment Department
5. Assistant Director - Town Clerk’s Department
6. City Treasurer- City Treasury Department
7. City Engineer – City Engineer’s Department
8. Director- Education Department
9. Director -City Planning Department
10. Director Housing Development Department
11. Director Human Resource Department
12. Director – Procurement
13. Director Legal Services
14. Director Investigations and Information Analysis—General Manager – Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company.
The policy formulation branch of the city is headed by the Mayor who oversees the functions of the following committees.
1. General Purposes Committee
2. Education Committee
3. Social Services committee
4. Staff Committee
5. Public Health Committee
6. Water and Sewerage Committee
7. Internal Committee
8. Environment Committee
9. Works Committee
10. Inspectorate Committee
11. Town Planning Committee
12. Housing Development Committee
13. Joint Workers Committee
14. Joint Staff Committee
15. Finance Committee
16. Tender Committee
17. LASDAP Committee.3
Sub-committees of the Council:
Rental Housing Sub-committee
Property and Assets Sub-committee
Works Sub-Committee
Licensing Sub-Committee
Street Naming Sub-Committee
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the Councillors to serve a two year term after which they may also seek reelection.
The current Mayor, Geoffrey Odhiambo Majiwa elected in 2009, temporarily “stepped aside” on October 28, 2010 pending the outcome of a court case against him related to cemetery land corruption.6 His functions are currently being performed by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor George Aladwa.
Most city residents have vowed not to tolerate corruption but to fight tooth and nail to have persons in charge of dysfunctional departments thrown out of office. The Kenyan Minister for local government is Musalia Mudavadi
.
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is the largest of the 175 local Authorities in the country and is under direction of the Ministry of Local Government.
The Chief Executive of the City Council is the Town Clerk and is appointed by the Minister of Local Government. The Non executive branch of the Council is headed by the Mayor. The Towne Clerk oversees the functions of 17 main and 4 sub committees whose members are City Councillors. Each committee is chaired by one Councilor. The committees meet at scheduled meetings and adopt proposals by consensus. The proposals then pass through a full Council for review. Proposals can only be approved as Council Resolutions by the Minister for Local Government having been reviewed by the full Council.1
The main offices of the Nairobi City Council are located at City Hall Plaza on City Hall Way. City Hall was constructed in the 1950s. At that time it was the tallest building in Nairobi with its clock tower standing at 165 ft high. The building was expanded in 1981 with the addition of the 13 storey City Hall Annex.
History
In 1963 after Kenya achieved independence, the Nairobi Urban District Council, NUDC or simply UDC, became the City Council of Nairobi (CCN).2 The Council was created by an act of Parliament, Cap 265 of the Laws of Kenya to provide services to residents of the city. Among other functions, the City Council is responsible for the provision of essential services like water, sewer and public safety.Structure and Organization
The Executive branch of the city is headed by the Town Clerk. He oversees the functions of the following:1. Director - Public Health Department
2. Director - City Inspectorate Department
3. Director- Environment Department
4. Director Environment Department
5. Assistant Director - Town Clerk’s Department
6. City Treasurer- City Treasury Department
7. City Engineer – City Engineer’s Department
8. Director- Education Department
9. Director -City Planning Department
10. Director Housing Development Department
11. Director Human Resource Department
12. Director – Procurement
13. Director Legal Services
14. Director Investigations and Information Analysis—General Manager – Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company.
The policy formulation branch of the city is headed by the Mayor who oversees the functions of the following committees.
1. General Purposes Committee
2. Education Committee
3. Social Services committee
4. Staff Committee
5. Public Health Committee
6. Water and Sewerage Committee
7. Internal Committee
8. Environment Committee
9. Works Committee
10. Inspectorate Committee
11. Town Planning Committee
12. Housing Development Committee
13. Joint Workers Committee
14. Joint Staff Committee
15. Finance Committee
16. Tender Committee
17. LASDAP Committee.3
Sub-committees of the Council:
Rental Housing Sub-committee
Property and Assets Sub-committee
Works Sub-Committee
Licensing Sub-Committee
Street Naming Sub-Committee
Elections and Representation
The city is divided into 8 divisions which also serve as Parliamentary Constituencies. 55 City Councillors are elected to represent Wards in the 8 divisions. The Councillors are elected by registered voters to serve five year terms after which they may seek re-election. After the elections, the party with the majority of Councillors gets to nominate 12 Councillors while the minority party nominates 8 Councillors.4The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are elected by the Councillors to serve a two year term after which they may also seek reelection.
Council Divisions and Wards
| Division | No. of Wards | Ward Names |
|---|---|---|
| Makadara, | 7 | Harambee, Hamza/Lumumba, Makongeni, Mbotela, Nairobi South, Ofafa, Viwandani, |
| Embakassi, | 11 | Dandora, Embakasi/Mihango Kariobangi South, Kayole, Komarock, Mukuru-kwa Njenga, Njiru-Mwiki, Ruai, Savannah, Umoja |
| Kamkunji, | 6 | Eastleigh North, Eastleigh South, Kimathi, Muthurwa/Shauri Moyo, Pumwani, Uhuru |
| Dagoretti Dagoretti Dagoretti refers to an area in western Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. Administratively it is one of eight divisions of Nairobi. The Dagoretti division is divided into six Locations... , |
6 | Kawangware, Kenyatta/Golf Course, Mutuini, Riruta, Uthiru/Ruthimitu Waithaka |
| Kasarani Kasarani Kasarani is a residential area in Nairobi Kenya. It is in the Eastern part of Nairobi, about 10 km from the city centre along Thika Road. It is thought that the name Kasarani originated from a river that flows through the area which has the Kikuyu name Gathara-ini River... , |
9 | Githurai, Kahawa Kahawa Kahawa is a suburb and civic ward of Nairobi, Kenya. The ward is part of Kasarani Constituency. Kahawa is located in the northeastern outskirts of Nairobi, along Thika Road .... Kariobangi North, Kasarani, Korogocho, Mathare 4A, Roysambu Ruaraka, Utalii/Babadogo |
| Langata Langata Lang'ata is a suburb of Nairobi in Kenya, lying south west of the city centre and east of Karen. The suburb consists of many smaller housing developments, referred to as estates. They include Nairobi Dam, Otiende, Southlands, Ngei, Jambo estate, Onyonka, Madaraka Estate and many others... , |
6 | Karen/Langata, Kibera Kibera Kibera is a division of Nairobi Area, Kenya, and neighbourhood of the city of Nairobi, located from the city centre. Kibera is the largest slum in Nairobi, and the second largest urban slum in Africa... , Laini Saba, Mugumoini, Nairobi West, Serang’ombe |
| Starehe, | 5 | Central, Huruma,, Kariokor, Mathare, Ngara |
| Westlands Westlands Westlands is a neighborhood in the city of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya.-Location:Westlands is located , by road, northwest of the central business district of Nairobi... , |
6 | Highridge, Kangemi, Kileleshwa, Kilimani, Kitisuru, Parklands |
Corruption and Problems Facing the City
The City Council of Nairobi is responsible for providing services such as housing, healthcare facilities, primary education, emergency response, waste collection, water and sanitation among other services. Most residents however, feel that the city’s ability to provide services is deteriorating and the local government is not effective enough in reducing corruption and poverty. Some vices related to corruption include:- Informal settlements mostly slums and illegal structures mushrooming in the city.
- “Land grabbing”
- Water shortages in the city due to inadequate supplies.
- Uncontrolled dumping of waste.
- “Ghost employees” - non existing employees whose names appear on the city’s payroll and receive pay regardless.
- Street Urchins
- Influx of Street Hawkers
- Bogus names Gazetted as elected Councillors.5
- Shameful fights and brawls by Councillors at Council meetings
The current Mayor, Geoffrey Odhiambo Majiwa elected in 2009, temporarily “stepped aside” on October 28, 2010 pending the outcome of a court case against him related to cemetery land corruption.6 His functions are currently being performed by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor George Aladwa.
Most city residents have vowed not to tolerate corruption but to fight tooth and nail to have persons in charge of dysfunctional departments thrown out of office. The Kenyan Minister for local government is Musalia Mudavadi
Musalia Mudavadi
Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government.Mudavadi was born in Sabatia, Vihiga District...
.