News broke of a major corruption scandal engulfing Machakos County, centering on Governor Wavinya Ndeti and her son, Charles Oduwale.
Both were reportedly under investigation by Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for their involvement in a questionable dams project.
Allegations of embezzlement and fraudulent construction activities have raised major concerns about governance and accountability within the county’s administration.
According to sources, the roots of this scandal date back to 2023, when Governor Wavinya Ndeti issued instructions to the Chief Water Officer, Abdullahi Guliye, to work with her son Oduwale and a third party, Salat Osman, commonly known as Ali, to build 75 dams across the county before the anticipated El Niño rains.
However, this ambitious project quickly raised eyebrows due to the unrealistic time frame.
Experts argued that completing such an extensive infrastructure project in such a short period was impossible, especially given the challenges that typically accompany large scale water projects.
Critics of the initiative argue that the dams project was not launched with sincere development intentions.
Instead, they claim it was a deliberate scheme aimed at embezzling county funds.
Evidence suggests that Governor Wavinya Ndeti was aware of the improbability of the project’s completion but proceeded with the endeavor anyway, possibly to facilitate the illicit siphoning of resources.
One of the first whistleblowers in this case was County Water Minister Catherine Mutanu.
Concerned about the irregularities surrounding the dams project, Mutanu raised questions about its viability and the procedural shortcomings.
These concerns were met with resistance from the governor, who allegedly threatened to terminate her if she persisted in her inquiries.
This power struggle within the county’s leadership further highlights the lack of transparency and accountability that surrounded the project.
As construction commenced, additional issues arose.
One of the most glaring problems was the absence of proper tendering and awarding processes, which are legally required for such large-scale government projects.
In this case, the contracts were allegedly handed out informally, circumventing the checks and balances that ensure public funds are spent responsibly.
This bypass of regulatory procedures raised alarms within both the Water and Finance departments of Machakos County, as staff were reportedly shocked by the lack of due diligence.
Despite the ambitious goal of building 75 dams, when the El Niño rains arrived, less than a quarter of the dams had been completed.
Shockingly, despite the lack of progress, contractors had already received payments for the unfinished work.
This discrepancy has prompted further scrutiny, with many questioning the financial practices of the county administration under Governor Ndeti.
Was the project ever intended to be completed, or was it merely a facade for large-scale corruption?
The EACC is still conducting investigations into the matter, seeking to determine the full extent of the corruption and who is responsible.
If the allegations are confirmed, this could have serious ramifications not only for Governor Wavinya Ndeti and her administration but also for broader efforts to combat corruption in Kenya.
The scandal exposes the challenge of holding public officials accountable, especially in a system where power can be used to suppress dissent and oversight.
The Machakos dams scandal highlights the ongoing struggle for ethical governance in Kenya’s counties.
The involvement of high-ranking officials like Governor Wavinya Ndeti and her son in such a scheme, if proven, would be a devastating blow to public trust in local government.
It also serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, particularly in sectors like infrastructure where corruption is often most rampant.
The outcome of the EACC’s investigation will likely have far reaching implications, both for Machakos County and for the national conversation on corruption in Kenya.
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