By Shadrack Nyakoe
A day before they were suspended, the 16 officials from the Nairobi County Urban Planning and Lands Department were summoned by the County Assembly committee on planning and questioned on why there was a delay in approving building plans in the City.
Although they were spared by the purge Sonko carried out at City Hall on Wednesday, the Planning CEC Winfred Kathangu and Lands Chief Officer Samwel Mwangi had it rough explaining to City reps why there was a delay in approving building plans.
Kathangu’s predecessor Charles Kerich and the Director Planning Compliance and Enforcement, Dominic Mutegi were blamed for pending statements and unsatisfactory responses to the Committee and the Assembly.
Appearing before the committee on Tuesday, Kathangu said the delay may have been caused by the “system challenges” which can be well explained by the ICT department.
“There are no technical meetings necessary for approvals and there have not been monthly meetings by the technical committee members,” she told the committee.
She said that since 27th June 2019, the Nairobi Planning technical committee has not had a meeting.
Sonko had earlier blamed the committee for sabotage.
Mutegi told the Committee that it’s not a long procedure for one to get an approval and that it should take utmost two days.
The Committee Chairman, Waithaka MCA Antony Kiragu said the Committee will summon officers from the ICT department to shed light on the issues.
However, the officers snubbed the meeting in Wednesday.
It also emerged during the sitting that the collapsed classroom at Precious Talent School where eight children died was constructed without approval from City Hall.
Majority Whip Chege Waithera said a sewer line which was constructed behind the collapsed classroom might be the cause behind caving in of the classroom and hence the county is to be blame.
While replying to the reps, CEC Kathangu said she was not aware but pointed fingers at her Juniors for laxity.