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In what is likely to escalate Kenyans’ anger weeks after the Ant-Finance Bill 2024 demos, whistleblower reports have emerged, detailing extensive corruption within the Budget and Economic Planning Directorate of Kilifi County. These allegations point to high-level officials manipulating financial systems for personal gain, involving substantial kickbacks and nepotism.
Budget Department Corruption
At the heart of the scandal is Mr. Wilberforce Katumo Mwinga, Director of Budget, along with his accomplices: Anderson Chilumo, Levis Nyale, and Joseph Pandao Kurwa. Mr. Mwinga is accused of manipulating IFMIS ledgers post-budget approval to divert funds to preferred contractors, demanding kickbacks in return. One notable case involved a Ksh. 600,000 kickback.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Headquarters in Nairobi premises
Nepotism is rampant, with Mr. Mwinga’s unqualified nephew, Joseph Pandao Kurwa, granted Hyperion rights to upload the budget. Suppliers and contractors reportedly bribe these officials to secure budget allocations, leading to significant discrepancies between circulated budgets and IFMIS records.
For example, a KUSP grant was listed as Ksh. 200 million in departmental budgets but only Ksh. 136 million on IFMIS, with the difference funneled into kickback-generating projects.
Economic Planning Department Corruption
Principal Economist Mr. Abel Mwandonga Haro, along with former Chief Officer Jacinta Treza Ismail and supplier Regina, are implicated in similar corrupt practices.
They are accused of accepting bribes for unfulfilled supply contracts, including a recent case where only a fraction of 1,000 CBROP 2023 booklets were delivered.
Fraudulent procurement requests and office repairs, such as carpet installation in Mr. Haro’s office, are other notable examples. Funds from VOTE Number 3125 – Economic Planning are allegedly misused for these activities, with Regina providing kickbacks shared between Mr. Haro and Ms. Ismail.
Additional Corruption Cases
Further reports implicate Asline Mbogo and David Kiringi, who allegedly pocketed Ksh. 1 million from a supplier for a fieldwork project, with minimal payment reaching the staff who completed the work.
These revelations paint a damning picture of the Kilifi County Government’s Budget and Economic Planning Directorate as a hub of corruption.
Immediate investigations and stringent actions are essential to restore integrity and accountability in these public offices. The residents of Kilifi County deserve transparency and justice, free from the clutches of corruption.
