Scandals vs Convictions: Kenya's Worrying Track Record

The Supreme Court of Kenya. Thursday, February 20, 2020.
The Supreme Court of Kenya. Thursday, February 20, 2020.
Simon Kiragu

Kenya is the 137 least corrupt nation out of 180 countries, according to the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International.

Financial abuse, graft and fraud have long plagued the country, hampering development, exacerbating inequality and suppressing economic potential.

However, the expected convictions based on the weight of allegations levelled against suspects mentioned in public domains have left alot of room for improvement.

Kenyans are often left wondering whether the recent surge in exposing corruption suspects marks a turn in the great war against corruption or just political theatre.

EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak after presenting a cheque to the Kenya Covid-19 Fund on April 28, 2020.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak after presenting a cheque to the Kenya Covid-19 Fund on April 28, 2020.
Photo
EACC Kenya

Here is look at the 7 biggest corruption scandals that rocked the nation over the past 2 decades and the situation so far.

The Mega Dams Scandal (2019)

President Uhuru Kenyatta was lauded as a champion in the war against corruption after he hauled a sitting minister out of office over graft. This was the first time this had ever happened.

Former Finance Minister Henry Rotich took the biggest hit with the President describing his office as a crime scene.

The roots of those alleged crimes stemmed from the Arror and Kimwarer dam projects in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

An Italian firm, CMC di Ravenna, won the contract to build the dams in 2015, however, ground is yet to be broken on either project, despite at least Ksh18 Billion being paid out, according to the state prosecutors.

The area where Arror Dam is to be constructed in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The area where Arror Dam was to be constructed in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Photo
KNA

This particular scandal turned comical after a bill of quantities showed items such as towels and pristine floor tiles.

All 27 individuals charged with abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud the public, failure to comply with guidelines relating to procurement, and financial misconduct, among others, pled not guilty.

The dam scandal disappeared quietly into the night.

Governors Scandals

Over the last few years, various county heads have found themselves facing the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) over graft.

From Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru's latest hearing before a Senate special committee, to Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko's infamous arrest.

Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal (Samburu), Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu) round up the infamous list. The former was linked to a multi-million oil supply scandal.

On his part, former Kiambu Governor Waititu was being investigated over the embezzlement of Ksh588 million from county coffers, believed to have been siphoned through irregular procurement for the upgrading of several roads in Kiambu County.

Interestingly, all the governors were slapped with cash bails, as the courts gather evidence in a bid to prosecute their cases in the future. In Waiguru's case, the Senate simply threw out her entire impeachment motion.

A photo of former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu shopping in the city
A photo of former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu shopping in the city
Twitter

However, a recent raid by EACC officials at both of her homes shows that they are not yet done.

The courts were also lauded for barring all governors accused and charged with corruption from accessing their offices.

NHIF Scandal (2018)

This struck a raw nerve among Kenyans after it emerged that at least Ksh1.5 billion of taxpayers money disappeared at the health insurer.

Eighteen suspects among them former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) CEOs Geoffrey Mwangi and Simon Kirgotty were charged over the alleged loss.

Anti-corruption court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti issued the various charges, however, Kirgotty and Mwangi denied the damaging allegations and were released on a cash bail of Ksh2 million each.

Some of the suspects were released on a cash bail of Ksh1 million and others Ksh 300,000.

National Youth Service (NYS) Scandal Part 1 and 2

This is the scandal that turned the Ngiritas into overnight celebrities.

The alleged looting is said to have taken place at Kenya's Ministry of Devolution and Planning. 

Ksh791 million is said to have been stolen from the coffers, with some saying that the figure may have been as high as Ksh1.8 billion.

In September 2015, Kenya's director of public prosecutions asked former ministry of Devolution and Planning CS Anne Waiguru to record a statement over the disappearance of funds.

On 22 November 2015, she stepped down from her cabinet position following pressure from the public, citing a need to take up 'light duties' for health reasons.

NYS headquarters along Thika Road, Nairobi
NYS headquarters along Thika Road, Nairobi
File

In February 2016, the EACC cleared her from the entire saga. Interestingly, in March 2016, the commission's former Chairman Phillip Kinisu said that there had been errors in clearing Waiguru.

Others mentioned in the scandal included Josephine Kabura, Ben Gethi, Adan Harakhe, Mutahi Ngunyi and Kipchumba Murkomen.

In 2018, NYS Part 2 emerged, with the taxpayer believed to have lost at least Ksh10 billion this time around.

Among top officials who were named in the scandal include former Public Service and Youth PS Lilian Omollo as well as ex-NYS Director-General Richard Ndubai.

But, perhaps, most Kenyans mainly remember a woman in a blonde wig named Ann Ngirita who was paid hundreds of millions despite supplying air.

NCPB Scandal

The sins of 2004, came back to haunt Sirisia Member of Parliament John Walukhe and his co-accused businesswoman Grace Wakhungu

The two were recently found guilty of fraud in a Ksh300 million maize scandal.

Their sentences stunned the entire country.

Walukhe was handed sixty-seven years in jail , or pay a fine of Ksh707 million.

It was the same sentence declared for his co-accused Grace Wakhungu. Their company Erad General Suppliers was convicted and sentenced.

a
Sirisia MP John Waluke and Grace Wakhungu in court in June 2020
File

This had never been witnessed in the country before.

Director of Public Prosecution Noordin Haji has also recently called for the arrest and prosecution of the Maasai Mara University Vice Chancellor Prof Mary Walingo.

She is entangled in a Ksh177 million graft case that was brought to light following an investigative feature aired on Citizen TV.

Borrowing a leaf from the above, NTV's Dennis Okari recently shared a feature dubbed Covid Millionaires that has rocked the country to its core.'

Billions are believed to have been siphoned via the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (KEMSA).

Top government officials and elected leaders have also been mentioned in the most explosive scandal in recent memory.

Kenyans have called for swift convictions, with protests erupting across major cities in which citizens have been demanding that justice be served on individuals accused of making illegal billions during the pandemic.

Police disperse protesters demonstrating at Uhuru Park, Nairobi on Friday, August 21, 2020
Police disperse protesters demonstrating at Uhuru Park, Nairobi on Friday, August 21, 2020
File
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