Willis Otieno blasts Sakaja’s building repaint order amid poor drainage concerns
Lawyer and politician Willis Otieno has lambasted Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja over his directive ordering building owners to repaint their premises within 14 days.
In a fiery statement on his X account on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, Otieno accused the county government of focusing on cosmetic changes instead of addressing the deeper problems facing the city.
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He said Nairobi’s biggest challenges are uncollected garbage, burst sewers, and poor roads, yet the administration is prioritising aesthetics. He likened the move to applying lipstick on a corpse, arguing that the city’s underlying issues must be fixed first.
“Because clearly the absence of paint, not the stench of garbage, burst sewers, or impassable roads, is Nairobi’s biggest crisis ?? ” Otieno questioned.
Adding;
“The county government is busy issuing aesthetic ultimatums while the city itself is rotting. Buildings must shine, even if the people inside are choking on filth. You don’t beautify a corpse by applying lipstick; you fix the rot first.”
Sakaja’s orders
Governor Sakaja on Tuesday directed that all buildings in the Central Business District, Westlands, Upper Hill, Ngara, Kirinyaga Road, and designated shopping centres be repainted.
The order was issued through Acting County Secretary Godfrey Akumali and warned that property owners, tenants, and building managers who fail to comply would face prosecution.
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According to the notice, the directive took immediate effect and will remain valid for 14 days.
Those who fail to meet the deadline risk having their premises closed and may face legal action under Sections 115, 118, and 126 of the Public Health Act.
The county government said the repainting exercise is aimed at meeting public health and housing standards.
“This notice takes effect immediately and remains valid for fourteen days only. Failure to comply will result in statutory closure orders and prosecution in line with Sections 115, 118, and 126 of the Public Health Act,” the notice stated.
This comes days after he criticised Sakaja over the poor drainage system in the Central Business District (CBD).
In a post shared on his X account, Otieno lamented that the capital city is often submerged whenever it rains because the county government has failed to clear drainage channels.
He accused Sakaja of prioritising entertainment events and social media trends over essential infrastructure projects like fixing the drainage system, leaving Nairobi residents to contend with floods and muddy streets.
“Every time it rains, Nairobi CBD turns into a swamp. Sakaja will do 5 years in office without unblocking even a drainage trench. A whole Governor reduced to vibes, concerts and hashtags, while the capital city drowns in mud. Leadership ya TikTok, not City Hall,” Otieno stated.
