Geoffrey Mosiria, the Nairobi County chief officer fired by Governor Johnson Sakaja this week, has responded with a sarcastic apology, saying his only error was working so hard that he overshadowed his boss.

In remarks made on Thursday, a day after his removal, Mosiria drew on Robert Greene's book The 48 Laws of Power, whose first rule is "Never Outshine the Master."

"I think my only mistake was to outshine my master by breaking Rule Number One of the 48 Laws of Power, and I am sorry," Mosiria said, as reported by K24 Digital.

He added: "I apologise to my boss if working hard in City Hall is a mistake."

Praise that 'meant the opposite'

Mosiria said Sakaja had once described him as one of the best-performing chief officers in the country, and he shared an old video of the governor praising him at a public event.

"As a young man, I didn't know that in government, when your boss praises you, sometimes they may mean the opposite," he said, according to K24 and Ghafla. He said he had taken the compliments as genuine and kept working harder to earn more of them.

Ghafla quoted him as saying that, behind the scenes, he had been seen as someone trying to make it look as though his boss was not working. Alongside the video he wrote "NI UCHUNGU SANA!", Swahili for "It is very painful!", and thanked the governor for recognising his work.

"The work I do is my only godfather, and I believe I must work hard because, ultimately, my work is what will speak for me and defend me," he said.

How he was removed

Sakaja removed Mosiria on Wednesday, 21 October, from his post as Chief Officer for Public Participation, Citizen Engagement and Customer Service. The change was communicated in a notice from County Secretary and Head of Public Service Machel Waikenda. Zipporah Njeri Mwangi, the Chief Officer for City Culture, Arts and Tourism, will oversee the docket in an acting capacity.

The county did not give a reason for the change. It came about ten days after Mosiria declared he would run for Nairobi governor in 2027, putting him in direct competition with the man he served.

A high-profile officer

Mosiria became one of the most visible faces of City Hall, known for his public crackdowns on environmental offences, noise, and businesses breaking county rules. His activity on social media made him a household name among Nairobi residents, which made his clash with Sakaja more noticeable.

His exit adds to a crowded field for the Nairobi governor's seat. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, businessman Ronald Karauri and former aspirant Agnes Kagure are among those who have shown interest, while Sakaja is expected to defend his seat.

By Thursday evening, Sakaja's office had not publicly responded to Mosiria's remarks.

For Mosiria, the sacking appears to have become part of his campaign pitch: a young officer who says he was punished for doing his job too well. Whether that story wins over Nairobi voters, many of whom knew him only through viral videos, will become clearer as the race takes shape.

Photos: Ghafla (Geoffrey Mosiria); K24 Digital (Johnson Sakaja).