Judging by the headlines carried by international media houses touching on Kenyan affairs, it is safe to say that the country has secured itself a higher slot on most corrupt countries in the world.
In fact, On December 9, the country was downgraded by seven points on the Transparency International corruption perception index(CPI) from position 144 in 2018 to 137 in 2019.
The ranking was as a result of runaway corruption whose cases are still long-winding in courts and at worst, have attracted political heckling.
Below are some of the scandals that rocked the country in 2020.
1. KEMSA
In March, when the pandemic hit the country threatening its economic well being, people appeared to unite with a common goal of defeating a common enemy or so it seemed.
The state explored ways to curb the spread of Covid-19 virus and luckily, Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) found itself handling commissions of multi-billion tenders which also attracted cartels.
By September 2020, it was apparent that the taxpayers had lost Ksh2.3 billion as a result of the scandal with shadowy businesses, some as whacky as one month old, bagging lucrative tenders to supply personal protective equipment.
As blame game and state orders reversing and issuing threats took center stage, the medics who were supposed to benefit from the supplies suffered the most after being exposed to the virus. Their woes were doubled with delayed salaries.
Today, the finger-pointing game continues at the Senate and Parliamentary assemblies with KEMSA directors blaming Health Ministry officials and vice versa. All in all, the consignment that had been donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma is yet to be recovered since they vanished in September.
2. Obado Arrest
Just a year after he was at the center of a murder probe, Migori Governor Okoth Obado found himself dodging corruption claims reportedly amounting to Ksh73.4 million.
In August, the county boss was arrested after presenting himself at EACC offices in Kisii a day after the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji ordered his arrest.
So serious was the situation that Obado’s children were caught in the middle of it after being accused of being proxies in the graft game.
“The investigations were in respect of Sh73.4 million being sums indirectly received by the Governor through his children who received multiple payments from companies trading with Migori County Government between 2013/2014 Financial Year and 2016/2017,” the DPP stated.
The suspects are currently out on bail.
3. Chinese Plane in Kenya
In February, as the Covid-19 fears were starting to build up and various countries taking precautions including closing their borders as well as forced quarantine, a plane full of Chinese nationals (China was the original source of the virus) touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
What caused uproar across the country was the fact that even as the virus was spreading like wildfire worldwide, all the 239 passengers were required to self-quarantine.
A video of the plane landing had sparked angry reactions from a section of Kenyans who questioned the government's commitment to keeping citizens safe from the virus.
The weeks that followed involved a tussle over what happened and even threatened the relationship between the two countries. In the end, the employee, Geri Ali, who shared the video of the plane landing was suspended from his job.
It was explained that the decision to suspend him originated from the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and was because of a breach on airside security procedures.
4. Sgt Kenei Murder
Sergeant Kipyegon Kenei, who was attached to the office of Deputy President William Ruto, was found dead in his house at the estate in Nairobi on Thursday, February 20.
Initially, his death was ruled as suicide but upon further investigation, Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti observed that the institution was dealing with a murder case.
In the months that followed, the case, which was initially linked with the Ksh39 million fake firearms deal that former Sports CS Rashid Echesa was adversely mentioned, took a life of its own.
There was a political blame game that ensued and CCTV recordings were even played on live daytime TV but the DP maintained that he had observed criminal cover-up in the case.
To date, the case remains unsolved and the country’s attention shifted to other matters.
5. Rashid Echesa firearm scandal
The year began on a rather dramatic note after former CS Rashid Echesa got arrested, in February, just metres away from Deputy President William Ruto's Harambee House Annex office.
The arrest was connected to an alleged Ksh39 billion arms deal that was reportedly supposed to be orchestrated by Echesa that took a different turn after Sgt Kenei was found murdered.
After his arrest, Police confirmed that Echesa had been apprehended after allegedly getting into a fake contract with foreign investors dealing with military equipment whom he convinced he could help secure a lucrative multi-billion shilling Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) tender for arms and military surveillance technology.
Echesa allegedly convinced the Polish firm, Eco Advanced Technologies LLC, to pay Ksh11,500,000 to a company known as Pizzle Consultancy Limited to show commitment.
He would later be charged with 12 counts of fraud including an alleged attempt to make a document with intent to defraud Polish military dealers.
Echesa, however, pleaded not guilty and was released on bail.
