The Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) is facing yet another scandal, this time involving a staggering Ksh 420 million corruption scheme allegedly orchestrated by top officials.
Blogger and activist Cyprian Is Nyakundi has taken the matter head-on, exposing the rot within KEBS and amplifying the voices of whistleblowers who have risked their careers to bring the truth to light.
An explosive open letter from KEBS Finance Staff to President William Ruto details shocking allegations against Managing Director Esther Ngari and the National Standards Council Board (NSC), accusing them of running KEBS like a personal cash cow.
The letter, titled “An Open Letter on Mega Corruption at KEBS,” lays out a systematic looting spree within the institution, where senior officials have allegedly engaged in blatant embezzlement, document forgery, and procurement fraud.
Nyakundi, known for his relentless pursuit of corruption in government agencies, has been vocal about KEBS’ mismanagement, calling out those responsible and demanding accountability. His exposé echoes the sentiments of frustrated KEBS employees who accuse top management of flouting procurement laws and diverting public funds for personal gain.
Among the most alarming allegations is the forgery and falsification of documents to siphon off millions through fake imprests.
The whistleblowers point to a fraudulent memo titled “Insurance Risk Assessment 2024,” allegedly forged to inflate an imprest from Ksh 626,800 to Ksh 1,965,600.
Despite no actual travel taking place, the implicated officials, including the MD, Director of Legal Services, and the MD’s Secretary, reportedly pocketed over Ksh 20.8 million through similar schemes in less than a year.
Nyakundi has been particularly critical of how such blatant theft is allowed to continue unchecked.The scandal does not end with fake imprests. The letter also exposes unprocedural procurement practices, where the Chief Manager of Administration, allegedly under the MD’s protection, facilitated the purchase of four overpriced air conditioners.
Two were sent to the Nyeri office, which barely needed them, while the remaining two were dumped in Mombasa, where they were rejected and left unused.
Such reckless expenditure only highlights how KEBS has become a playground for fraudsters.Perhaps the most disturbing revelation is how KEBS’ internal systems were deliberately sabotaged.
In June 2023, Head of ICT John Kirimi allegedly introduced malware into KEBS systems, shutting down critical operations and resulting in a Ksh 10 million loss. The attack crippled essential services, including payroll and HR systems.
Instead of facing disciplinary action, Kirimi was quietly transferred to head administration services, raising questions about high-level protection within KEBS. Nyakundi has lambasted the agency for covering up such a serious breach, calling it a national security risk.
Further, the letter exposes double payments to law firms handling KEBS cases. In a lawsuit involving Kwale International Sugar Company Limited, KEBS allegedly paid two law firms for the same case, despite the files being consolidated.
Nyakundi has pointed out that this is a common tactic in corrupt institutions using inflated legal fees to launder money under the guise of legal expenses.
As the scandal gains traction, Nyakundi has continued to pile pressure on President Ruto’s administration, questioning whether any action will be taken against the accused officials.
The open letter from KEBS Finance Staff is a desperate plea for intervention before more public funds are lost. Whether the government will act on these damning allegations or sweep them under the rug remains to be seen.
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