A corruption scandal has rocked Kwale County, where a family linked to Social Service and Talent Management County Executive Committee Member Francisca Kilonzo is accused of embezzling millions of shillings through fraudulent tender deals.
Documents and testimonies from county oversight committees reveal that the family has siphoned off over Ksh 150 million through companies controlled by close family members, circumventing the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act of 2015.
The companies involved include Diani Occasions, Mutanga Investments, and R Flink, all of which were awarded contracts under questionable circumstances.
Diani Occasions, linked to Kilonzo’s late nephew, received Ksh 33,670,500, while Mutanga Investments, managed by hidden directors but registered under her late mother’s name, was paid Ksh 266,644,200. R Flink, run by Kilonzo’s sister Fatuma Kilonzo, took in Ksh 90,296,011.
These contracts, involving vague or unverified work, indicate a well-orchestrated scheme to loot public funds.
Kilonzo’s close ties to the County Chief Officer of Finance, Alex Thomas Onduko, further complicate the situation. Allegations suggest they are not only romantically involved but also share in the proceeds of corrupt deals.
Onduko is implicated in additional scandals, such as the awarding of a Ksh 16 million contract for an oxygen plant construction at Msambweni Hospital, linked to Cloemart Company, which is associated with his real-life partner Chloe Kalamesi.
This scandal underscores the deep-rooted corruption within Kwale County’s procurement processes.
The ongoing investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has led to several arrests, including high-ranking officials in the county administration.
This case is part of a broader pattern of corruption in Kenya, where local officials exploit their positions and connections to enrich themselves at the public’s expense.
Efforts to recover the stolen assets are ongoing, with calls for the Asset Recovery Agency to trace and reclaim properties acquired through these fraudulent activities.
The spotlight remains on how entrenched corruption networks continue to undermine public trust and development in the region.
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