A major corruption scandal has rocked the National Treasury, with allegations surfacing that Kefa Seda, a senior official at the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), paid a staggering Ksh 200 million bribe to Principal Secretary (PS) Chris Kiptoo to secure the powerful position of Director General of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
The scandal, which has drawn the attention of the French government and international investment agencies, is now under intense scrutiny over claims of bribery, abuse of office, and procedural manipulation in the appointment process.
National Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo Photo: Chris Kiptoo Source: Facebook
Sources close to the investigation reveal that Kefa Seda allegedly offered the massive bribe to PS Kiptoo in Eldoret, ensuring he emerged as the top candidate for the PPP position after the forced removal of Chris Kiruga.
Kiruga, who previously held the role, was allegedly pushed out and reassigned as an ambassador to create room for a bidding process, where Seda outmatched competitors with the highest financial offer.
Further allegations suggest that both Kefa Seda and PS Chris Kiptoo have been involved in receiving bribes from foreign investors, particularly from China, Turkey, and Gulf nations, to influence the privatization of state-owned enterprises.
National Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo speaks during a past event. Photo: The Star Source: Facebook
The duo is accused of employing coercive tactics to override the decisions of Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u and other key government officials, effectively undermining transparency in public finance management.
Investigations indicate that Kefa Seda used similar underhanded strategies at the Mau Summit, where he allegedly blocked a French company from securing a major infrastructure contract after receiving hefty financial incentives from competing bidders.
His deep connections within the judiciary and investigative agencies have reportedly allowed him to evade accountability while silencing opposition.
A local non-governmental organization (NGO) is now preparing a lawsuit to challenge Seda’s appointment and initiate a lifestyle audit on both him and PS Kiptoo.
The NGO has also formally petitioned President William Ruto, urging him to reject Seda’s appointment and order an independent probe into the corruption allegations.
Kenyans were quick to react to the development on X using the hashtag BriberyAtTreasuryKe. Below are some of the responses.
Bianca: Foreign governments, like the French government in this case, investigate bribery because it affects their investments and partnerships.
Miss Independent: The fight against corruption starts with exposing Kefa Seda’s bribery and PS Chris Kiptoo’s greed! Treasury jobs should not be sold to the highest bidder! #BriberyAtTreasuryKE Corrupt Kefa Seda PS Chris Kiptoo Bribed
Gusii Tycoon: When top officials engage in bribery, they betray the trust of the people. The accusations against Kefa Seda and PS Cris Kiptoo should be a national conversation. #BriberyAtTreasuryKE, Corrupt Kefa Seda, PS Chris Kiptoo Bribed
