Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has landed in trouble again.
This is after Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has exposed massive corruption, incompetence, and blatant looting of public funds meant for the rehabilitation of several Nairobi sports facilities.
According to Gathungu, millions of shillings allocated for projects, including Joe Kadenge Stadium, Dandora Stadium, Woodley Stadium, Jericho Playground, and Desert Playground in California Ward, cannot be fully accounted for.
Nairobi Governor Sakaja and his DG Muchiri. Source: NTV Kenya Source: X
Despite substantial payments, some projects have stalled, while others were completed in a substandard manner, raising serious questions about financial mismanagement in Sakaja’s administration.
The scandal surrounding Joe Kadenge Stadium is particularly damning. The rehabilitation contract, worth a staggering Ksh 95.9 million, was expected to be completed within six months from June 29, 2023.
However, after receiving Ksh 41 million, the contractor mysteriously abandoned the site, leaving key components such as the artificial turf, drainage system, and perimeter fence incomplete.
Shockingly, there is no evidence that the contract was renewed, further fueling suspicions of misappropriation.
Sakaja showcases his football skills in Dandora stadium. Photo: Citizen TV Kenya Source: X
At Dandora Stadium, the county splurged Ksh 223 million, but the result is nothing short of disgraceful.
Non-functional floodlights, an uneven pitch, substandard roofing that leaks when it rains, missing lighting, exposed wiring, and weak perimeter walls made of soft boards that can be broken with ease all these point to gross incompetence and corruption within Sakaja’s government.
It is evident that public funds were looted under the guise of development.
Woodley Stadium tells a similar story of plunder. Awarded for Ksh 135 million, only 20% of the work was completed before the contractor abandoned the site after pocketing Ksh 29.8 million.
Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja speaking during a past event. Photo: Sakaja Source: Facebook
In an even more shocking move, a new contract worth Ksh 123.9 million was issued in August 2024, yet it did not include the unfinished work from the previous contract.
This raises serious red flags on how Nairobi County awards contracts and whether there is any real intention to complete these projects.
The looting spree continues at Jericho Playground, where the full contract sum of Ksh 17.5 million was paid despite incomplete work.
Basic elements such as internal painting, guardhouse flooring, and glass window installations were left unfinished, yet the money vanished. This is a clear case of theft from the public coffers.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu speaks during a past media presser. Photo: Nation Source: Facebook
At Desert Playground, Ksh 30 million was allocated for rehabilitation, but Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has questioned the management of these funds.
Financial records fail to show a clear breakdown of how the money was spent. Instead, Nairobi residents are left with yet another half-baked project riddled with mismanagement and corruption.
The scandal took a bizarre turn when President William Ruto officially launched the Desert Playground today during his tour of Kamukunji, seemingly turning a blind eye to the damning audit report.
While Ruto reaffirmed his government’s commitment to sports development and promised to support Sakaja’s ambitious plan to build ten additional playing grounds and four stadiums, the reality on the ground paints a picture of deception, failed leadership, and grand-scale looting.
