County Attorney out of office after City Hall revelation

County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka assists CEC for Boroughs Administration and Personnel Ibrahim Auma take Oath of Office on Thursday, December 08, 2022. [Samson Wire, Standard]

Nairobi City County Attorney Lydia Kwamboka has been locked out of office days after shedding light on some alleged un-procedural payments at City Hall.

On Tuesday, August 8, Kwamboka was locked out of her City hall office after some staff arrived and informed her they wanted to change the locks.

Soon, she was informed that her services were terminated on August 7, 2023 via a letter dated August 7 signed by County Secretary.

"We are grateful for the services rendered to the County during the transitional period following the lapse of your employment contract dated October 1st 2019 on the 31st December 2022," the letter reads in part.

"Following the appointment of an acting County Attorney, you are requested to officially hand over," the letter reads.

For this reason, she was requested to hand over following the lapse of her contract.

However, according to Kwamboka her contract was extended by former Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu last year.

The terms of service letter dated 20th July, 2022 signed by the former governor reads in part, "The office of the County Attorney Act, 2020,"

"In reference to your letter of appointment as County Attorney dated June 2018 and that dated 1st October 2019 and in accordance with provisions of section 6(1) of the office of the County Attorney 2020," the letter adds.

The letter indicates that Kwamboka's term of service was extended accordingly to six years with the effect from the commencement of the office of the County Attorney act 2020 i.e 13th July 2020.

On August 2, 2023 Kwamboka appeared before the Assembly Justice and Legal Affairs Committee to shed light on some issues touching on legal pending bills.

In one of the cases, she claimed that Sh60 million from her budget was diverted to pay other firms contrary to her advice to the Finance department.

She stated that among her advice to the executive was that companies that had little unsettled bills be paid first followed by those with the highest debts.

"I approved all the payments but they (Finance) are the ones who decided the companies to pay yet that mandate is mine.," Kwamboka stated.

The attorney further told the Committee that her powers have been taken by the Office of the County Chief Officer, finance.

Her appearance before the Assembly legal committee came after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) raised suspicion over suspected fraud in Nairobi County Government.