A recent probe has revealed a staggering level of corruption and mismanagement within Nandi County which is currently under governor Stephen Sang, where around Ksh 6 billion of public funds reportedly disappeared through ghost projects and irregular procurement processes.
The magnitude of the scandal, as uncovered by a 16-member ad-hoc committee co-chaired by Benjamin Kerich Matata and Sarah Mutwol, illustrates a well-organized system of exploitation and resource diversion under Governor Stephen Sang’s administration.
The investigation, which took place away from the public eye at a Mombasa hotel, was exhaustive and intricate.
Insiders indicate that investigators had at their disposal a massive trove of evidence: two pickup trucks filled with incriminating documents, 108 video clips of abandoned projects, and two terabytes of digital evidence.
This extensive documentation paints a troubling image of systematic resource mismanagement.
The evidence reportedly reveals that projects were often initiated on paper only, allowing billions to vanish without trace or accountability.
One of the focal points in the investigation is the Water and Climate Action Department, described by investigators as
“the theater of corruption.” Here, nearly 1,884 employees were abruptly dismissed, a decision suspected to be aimed at facilitating fraudulent activities within the department.
Projects that existed solely in documentation became a channel through which billions were siphoned off, underscoring a blatant disregard for accountability.
The orchestrators of these schemes appear to include high-ranking officials, including four County Executive Committee (CEC) members, who are alleged to have manipulated project documentation through vague, often incoherent language and fabricated data to disguise the truth.
Junior officers, brought in for questioning, provided insight into these schemes, some inadvertently revealing departmental secrets that added further weight to the evidence collected.
Investigators found that a culture of silence and complicity ran deep, with officials at various levels either directly participating in or turning a blind eye to corrupt practices.
The Health Department also emerged as a hotbed of malfeasance, with suspicious procurements and unaccounted-for expenditures surfacing during the investigation.
In the agriculture sector, inflated contracts and fictitious deliveries were uncovered, further highlighting the extent to which public funds were misused.
Roads and infrastructure projects, many of which were left incomplete or substandard, stand as physical reminders of the neglect and misappropriation of taxpayer resources.
Even the County Public Service Board, a body theoretically responsible for ensuring ethical governance, has been implicated.
Board member Ezekiel Chemwor resigned in the midst of the investigation, refusing to cooperate with investigators move that has led to speculation about the information he may be withholding.
The report recommends that Chemwor face further scrutiny by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), along with other officials connected to the scandal.
The investigation has profound implications for Nandi County’s leadership, with recommendations for the removal of key officials, including Chief Officers Jonah Kipruto Biwott (Water, Lands, and Climate Action) and Fred Kiptum (Health and Sanitation), both facing calls for dismissal.
In addition, Priscah Muigei, the Chief Officer for Finance and Planning, is facing possible suspension.
The report also calls for the dissolution of the entire County Public Service Board, suggesting that governance systems within the county require a complete overhaul to prevent future abuses.
The potential consequences of this Ksh 6 billion loss are immense.
Such an amount could have significantly transformed healthcare, education, and infrastructure in Nandi County, enabling improvements that local residents urgently need.
Instead, taxpayers have been left with incomplete projects, dubious financial records, and a governance system that appears to have prioritized personal gain over public service.
The attitudes of some officials during questioning further emphasize the entrenched culture of impunity.
Some provided non-committal answers described by one investigator as “hot air,” reflecting either a deep-seated arrogance or a belief that they could escape accountability.
This level of nonchalance indicates how securely these officials seemed to feel within a system that, until recently, appeared invulnerable to scrutiny.
However, there are indications that a reckoning may be on the horizon.
Both the EACC and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are now closely involved in this case, potentially signaling a broader anti-corruption effort aimed at addressing deeply rooted issues within county administrations.
Local residents, alarmed and angered by the revelations, are rallying for change. Community groups have organized to monitor the government’s response to this scandal, underlining the public’s demand for accountability.
The investigation into Nandi County serves as a cautionary tale for county governments across Kenya, underscoring the dangers of unchecked power and lack of accountability.
The Nandi County scandal highlights the critical need for transparent, effective governance and the perils of prioritizing personal enrichment over public welfare.
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