Governor Sakaja Urged to Fix Nairobi CBD CCTV Cameras After MP Were’s Killing
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja is under mounting pressure to ensure that all CCTV cameras across the Nairobi Central Business District are fully operational, following the shocking assassination of Kasipul Member of Parliament Charles Ong’ondo Were.
Speaking during a solemn requiem mass held at the Consolata Shrine in Nairobi on May 7, Members of Parliament called on Governor Sakaja to prioritize the city’s surveillance infrastructure. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula emphasized that functional CCTV systems would play a crucial role in deterring crime and aiding investigations.
“Governor of Nairobi, we want to see that all CCTV installations in the city operate optimally, 24 hours a day, to capture wicked characters who roam the city molesting others and causing pain and suffering to innocent families,” Wetang’ula stated.
The MPs highlighted that the absence of reliable CCTV coverage undermines security efforts and erodes public trust in the city’s ability to protect its residents. They urged Sakaja to take immediate action to restore and upgrade the surveillance systems, particularly in high-risk areas of the CBD.
Governor Sakaja, who attended the memorial service, expressed his condolences to the family and constituents of the late MP. “On behalf of the people of Nairobi, where a child and a family are also constituents just as all of you are, I want to pass sincere condolences from myself, my family, and all the people of this city during this very difficult time,” he said.
Sakaja acknowledged the shock and grief caused by the killing, noting, “I know emotions have been very high since this incident happened. It was a shock to all of us.”
Charles Were was gunned down on April 30 while stuck in traffic in Nairobi. Authorities say he was targeted by a gunman who had an accomplice on a motorcycle. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested six suspects linked to the murder, including members of a suspected criminal gang and a police officer believed to be part of the plot.
Detectives are currently analyzing CCTV footage from nearby shops and roundabouts to piece together the MP’s final moments. However, officials have admitted that many of Nairobi’s surveillance cameras are either non-functional or inaccessible due to ownership issues.
The city’s CCTV project, launched in 2012 by the former Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development, saw the installation of 42 cameras by a Chinese contractor at a cost of Sh437 million. The system included number plate recognition technology and two control centres—one at Nairobi Area Police headquarters and another at City Hall Annexe.
Despite the investment, the Roads and Public Works Department revealed in 2019 that Nairobi County could not maintain the cameras as the contractor still retained control. As of May 2018, 26 out of the 42 cameras, particularly those on Moi Avenue, Kenyatta Avenue, Uhuru Highway, and Tom Mboya Street, were already non-operational. Others along University Way and Lusaka Roundabout had been damaged.
The contractor has reportedly demanded Sh7.2 million to repair and hand over the system, which continues to leave a significant gap in the city’s security network.
With the murder of MP Were still fresh in the minds of Kenyans, the call for a fully functional and well-maintained CCTV surveillance system in Nairobi has never been louder.
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Governor Sakaja Urged to Fix Nairobi CBD CCTV Cameras After MP Were’s Killing