City Hall parking cartel boss Tinega exposed – Weekly Citizen

The future of Tom Tinega as Nairobi county parking department director hangs in the balance. Weekly Citizen has information that bitter staff members working under Tinega are compiling a dossier to be unleashed against him and forwarded to Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission detailing how a cartel with full blessings of Tinega has been looting millions of shillings on a weekly basis from the county parking fees.

Insiders say that the cartel clamps vehicles within the city’s jurisdiction and one is supposed to go and pay a penalty before the vehicles are eventually released. Fake receipts are said to be given out once money is paid and even in some instances, negotiations are entered to avoid payments.

Governor Sonko

The payments are done at a specific office at City Hall. Due to corruption at Tinega managed department, it has failed to deliver on core duties of enhancing the county’s revenue collection base.

Tinega is one of the City Hall godfathers that have survived for years but rich owning properties including rental houses. He is also said to have a network among city matatu operators who part with millions of shillings to enjoy protection.

Tinega survival is by bribing aides of new management at City Hall and that is why he is at times suspended from office only to buy his way back.

Last week, MCAs took Tinega head on claiming, the parking department had taken over duties of transport department.

The bone of contention was that Tinega had allocated picking and dropping points to matatu saccos, interfering with routes and being bribed to issue loading zones.

Weekly Citizen has information that whereas the above fall under transport department, Tinega whose docket falls in Finance has taken over.

Umoja one MCA Mark Mugambi has been on the forefront in attacking Tinega together with Utalii ward MCA Wilson Ochola.

Transport committee chairperson Joyce Muthoni has been accused of being on Tinega’s payroll.

Sections of transport committee members are calling for an urgent meeting that is expected to solve the crisis. They want Tinega to avail notices issued by the parking department from 2017 in relation to matatu terminus presented before the committee.