A major investigation has blown the lid off a massive Ksh 6 billion corruption scandal within Nandi County, where county officials are accused of systematic looting of public funds through ghost projects, irregular procurement, and other dubious practices.
The ongoing probe reveals the staggering scale of mismanagement and alleged corruption that has left residents reeling and demanding accountability.
Nandi County official standing outside County Headquarters. Photo: Stephen Sang Source: Facebook
Investigators working in secrecy at a Mombasa hotel reportedly examined damning evidence: two pickup trucks filled with documents, 108 video clips of abandoned projects, and two terabytes of digital data, each piece painting a grim picture of widespread fraud.
According to insiders, the evidence collectively points to a well-coordinated “systematic plunder” of public resources.
A significant portion of the alleged misappropriation centers on the water and climate action department, which investigators have described as “the theater of corruption.”
Nandi County Gov Hon Stephen Sang. Photo: Citizen TV Kenya Source: Facebook
Here, almost 1,900 employees were reportedly dismissed in what appears to have been a strategic move to pave the way for a scheme that diverted millions into phantom projects.
The department became a virtual “cash cow,” with most projects existing solely on paper as billions of taxpayer shillings allegedly vanished without trace.
Within the health department, investigators found suspicious procurement activities and what they suspect to be a pattern of inflated contracts.
Meanwhile, the agriculture sector suffered from overcharged agreements and non-existent deliveries, while roads and infrastructure projects stood incomplete, underscoring the alleged misuse of funds. In each case, junior officers provided startling insights, often inadvertently exposing internal operations as they were questioned, many openly revealing departmental secrets.
The investigation also implicates senior county officials. Four County Executive Committee (CEC) members, including Chief Officers Jonah Kipruto Biwott (Water, Lands, and Climate Action) and Fred Kiptum (Health and Sanitation), face recommendations for dismissal, as investigators accuse them of authorizing and overseeing questionable projects.
Additionally, Priscah Muigei, Chief Officer for Finance and Planning, faces suspension, while the entire County Public Service Board, responsible for overseeing governance, is also under scrutiny. Board member Ezekiel Chemwor resigned abruptly during the probe and is recommended for further investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The report details what investigators described as attempts to “cover up” the scale of the scandal through misleading documentation, including incoherent reports designed to obscure the reality of mismanaged projects.
However, the weight of evidence, gathered by the 16-member ad-hoc county assembly committee co-chaired by Benjamin Kerich Matata and Sarah Mutwol, has brought the alleged corruption into stark relief.
