What you are about to read will leave many of you scratching your heads in disbelief.
Wilson Nashon Kanani, the former Nairobi County development control officer embroiled in a web of corruption appears to have made a surprising return to his position, despite the cloud of scandals still looming over him.
Wilson Nashon Kanani is a name that has become synonymous with corruption and malfeasance in the corridors of Nairobi County.
The story begins with a damning expose in December 15, 2022 that revealed the staggering extent of Kanani’s ill-gotten gains.
According to the report, Kanani, his family, and associated companies had assets valued at over a staggering Ksh. 100 million which included prime land, luxurious homes and a fleet of high-end automobiles.
Despite his modest salary of Ksh 55,866.75 per month from City Hall, Kanani lived a lifestyle far beyond his means, enjoying the trappings of wealth and privilege that his legitimate income could never justify.
He held lavish properties including a townhouse in Phenom Estate, Lang’ata and a litany of prime real estate holdings scattered across various locales.
The depth of his treachery became even more apparent when the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) initiated legal proceedings against him, freezing a total of 11 bank accounts owned by Kanani and his family members.
But the rot doesn’t stop there.
Kanani’s involvement in the ownership and operation of the infamous nightclub, 1824, raised even more eyebrows.
Despite his official role as a Development Control Officer at Nairobi County, tasked with enforcing compliance with advertising regulations, Kanani and his business associates Biko Ochieng Gwendo and George Avugwi Lutta profited handsomely from the club’s operations, raking in approximately Ksh. 5.6 million monthly.
The eventual closure of the nightclub on December 2023 and then eventual demolishion in March 2024 came as a culmination of mounting legal and regulatory pressure.
Videos and photos that circulated online depicted the chaotic scene as unidentified persons carted away furniture and other materials from the club under the watchful eye of uniformed police officers.
The specter of corruption looms large over Kanani’s financial dealings, given EACC declared that his ostensible business ventures served as mere facades for illicit financial transactions and kickbacks from contractors seeking favorable treatment from Nairobi County.
As the case proceeds in court, this and more factors could potentially unravel the very fabric of Nairobi’s nightlife scene and expose the underbelly of corruption entrenched within City Hall’s corridors of power.
Kanani’s companies engaged in business dealings with Nairobi County, despite the glaring conflict of interest and lack of integrity and ethical conduct as a public servant.
His proxy firms including Wilcoreg Ltd were among the pool of stationery suppliers for the National Assembly and contractors for Siaya County’s infrastructure projects, underscored the pervasive nature of his alleged malfeasance.
Financial transactions scrutinized by investigators paint a damning portrait of Kanani’s financial dealings.
For instance, a some company named “Willy Walla” receiving a staggering Ksh. 278 million and a further Ksh. 181 million was deposited at Kanani’s personal account at I&M Bank with zero explanations given for the legitimacy of such astronomical sums.
The companies involved were:
1. Live Ad Limited: This company paid Ksh. 55 million into Kanani’s private company, Willy Walla Ltd.
2. Firm Bridge Limited
3. Ikon Prints Media Limited
4. Parrot Concepts Limited: This company paid a total of Ksh. 55 million into Kanani’s private company, Willy Walla Ltd.
5. De-signtech Enterprises Limited
6. Media-max Network Limited: This company paid a total of Ksh. 23.9 million into Kanani’s private company, Willy Walla Ltd.
This happened over 5 years.
During this time, Kanani bought a bunch of expensive stuff.
Among these assets are four high-end motor vehicles, including a Toyota Land Cruiser V8, Mercedes Benz E 300, Mercedes Benz E350 and a Toyota Alphard.
He also bought a posh apartment in Nairobi valued at Ksh. 6.5 million, a house in Busia valued at Ksh. 11.2 million and land in Naivasha valued at Ksh. 3.5 million.
During a search of his premises, investigators recovered cash amounting to Ksh. 898,000.
EACC also claimed that Kanani solicited bribes and kickbacks from developers, which further damaged his already damaged reputation and confirmed that corruption within Nairobi County’s bureaucracy stinks to the highest levels.
Despite Kanani’s attempts to challenge the freezing of his assets the High Court dismissed his application in February 2024 affirming the continuation of the asset freeze.
We covered this extensively in this previous post.
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The inexplicable reinstatement of Wilson Nashon Kanani to the Nairobi City County ranks midst such a maelstrom of corruption allegations and ongoing legal battles is clear proof of Sakaja’s total disregard for ethical governance and accountability.
Even worse, despite the flurry of legal and regulatory scrutiny, the iconic 1824 nightclub is now set to make a comeback.
The nightclub has now relocated to a new venue along Aerodrome Road, Madaraka, situated along Lang’ata Road in Nairobi.
A conspicuous banner displayed at the new location serves as a herald of its imminent return signaling to patrons and enthusiasts alike that 1824, a monument of graft, corruption and impunity is back in Nairobi’s nightlife scene.
The decision to relocate to Aerodrome Road marks a strategic move by the club’s management, opening up new avenues for laundering dirty City Hall cash.
With its strategic placement on a busy street, the new venue is easily accessible and appeals to affluent guests from all areas of the city.
This impending reopening of 1824 nightclub stands as a testament to the impunity that pervades our society.
Kanani, with the help of his cohorts Biko Ochieng Gwendo and George Avugwi Lutta shamelessly exploited his position of authority by shamelessly lining his and their pockets while betraying the public trust.
Why would authorities allow this decision to resurrect this den of iniquity?
It is a slap in the face of justice, a mockery of the countless Nairobians who suffer under the weight of corruption’s heavy boot.
Birds of a feather truly flock together. It is no wonder Governor Sakaja is turning a blind eye to such brazen malfeasance.
Just like Igathe predicted during the 2022 gubenitorial debate, Governor Sakaja is a mere puppet of the corrupt elite.
By endorsing Kanani’s return to office Sakaja has sacrificed morality on the altar of political expediency.
We must hold the likes of Kanani and Sakaja accountable for their crimes against the people and demand a future free from the shackles of corruption and greed.
Anything less would be a betrayal of our collective conscience and a surrender to the forces of darkness that threaten to consume us all.
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