Cyprian Is Nyakundi has exposed yet another shocking case of corruption, this time involving Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa. According to a confidential letter sent to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Kakamega County is neck-deep in rot, with widespread corruption, nepotism, and abuse of office allegedly orchestrated by Barasa and top county officials.
This letter, written by a group of people claiming to be employees of the Kakamega County Government, lays bare the disturbing details of how public funds are being looted and how the system is being used for personal gain at the expense of the residents. One of the most alarming claims is the illegal hiring of county staff. The letter states that nurses, clinical officers, and even the county secretary were hired without following the law, completely ignoring the County Public Service Board.
The Chief Officer for Public Service, Prisca Otipa, is mentioned as the one who ran the recruitment process alone, allegedly on instructions from the governor. The situation becomes even more worrying with allegations that Justice Aggrey Muchelule received Ksh 50 million to rule in favor of Governor Barasa in court, raising questions about the integrity of the judiciary.
There are also serious claims about missing pension deductions, SACCO contributions, and insurance payments. Although these amounts were deducted from salaries throughout 2024, they were never submitted to the right institutions. This points to financial mismanagement of the worst kind.
Other shocking revelations include the governor keeping safes full of cash and using helicopters to transport the money to Nairobi. Some of this money is believed to have been stolen from the FLLOCA project, which is funded by the World Bank, with over Ksh 293 million flagged as missing.
The letter also accuses the Bungoma EACC office of being compromised, saying that its officials are enjoying close relationships with Barasa and intentionally delaying investigations. The former EACC CEO, Twalib Mbarak, is also mentioned for allegedly protecting the Chief Officer for Finance, Jeophita Mwajuma, because of personal ties.
The whistleblowers are demanding a thorough probe and lifestyle audits for county officials, citing ghost projects, inflated payments, and unexplained wealth like posh apartments and luxury cars.
A shocking example of theft involves Ksh 143 million paid for fake medical supplies, while another Ksh 43 million disappeared in ghost health projects. When the Health Committee tried to investigate, it was quickly silenced.
Another questionable payment of Ksh 37 million was made for renovations at a privately owned sports complex under the guise of a Governor’s Cup event. Even worse, millions more were spent on clothes and media coverage with no real value.
A separate scandal involves fake fertilizer meant for farmers. According to the whistleblowers, the Governor bribed the County Criminal Investigations Officer with Ksh 300,000 to kill the case. Emmanuel Kariuki, a Chief Officer, is said to have personally delivered the bribe and boasted that the matter was buried.
Governor Barasa’s relatives have also been awarded road construction tenders worth millions, with allegations of conflict of interest and favoritism running deep. George Wanjala, Barasa’s brother-in-law, was shortlisted for a senior county job despite clear conflict of interest, adding to the list of unethical hiring.
Reports also show that the governor’s aides receive daily cash handouts of Ksh 5,000, raising questions about where the money comes from. Even his bodyguard, Justus Wechuli, is under the spotlight for being a key link in moving dirty money through his wife’s M-Pesa account.
Staff are also suffering under a fake health insurance cover called MTIBA. Despite monthly deductions, workers are forced to pay out of pocket for treatment, showing just how deep the scam runs.
Another questionable move was shifting the county’s main account from Cooperative Bank to KCB, allegedly to benefit a few people through kickbacks. The selection panel for appointing public service board members wasn’t even officially gazetted, but still went ahead with interviews secretly, further undermining public trust.
One female staff member is reportedly used to withdraw huge amounts of money which are then delivered to the First Lady, Janet Kassily Barasa. This paints a picture of a well-organized looting network. The letter also mentions a violent incident during a funeral in Matungu where hired youths admitted to being paid to cause chaos.
Despite being caught on video, no one has been held accountable, and the Interior CS has remained silent. The Governor is also accused of handing out Ksh 200 to people who attend his rallies, even as salaries go unpaid. Roads that were supposed to be 10km long in every ward are said to be much shorter, yet full payments are made, with contractors allegedly giving the governor a 40% cut.
These same payment certificates are used to collect funds from the Controller of Budget, yet the contractors are not paid. These revelations are just the tip of the iceberg. The level of corruption under Fernandes Barasa, as revealed in this letter, is shocking and calls for immediate, independent investigation. The people of Kakamega deserve transparency, accountability, and above all, justice.
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