Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has suspended 33 county revenue officers linked to fraud. The officers face accusations of diverting funds, under-reporting collections, and issuing fake receipts.
The governor announced the move on Monday during a press briefing. She said corruption was destroying public trust and blocking service delivery.
Corruption Allegations
According to Governor Wavinya, the officers engaged in schemes that robbed residents of their money. This included fake permits and illegal charges.
“Despite investing heavily in digitizing revenue collection systems, some public servants continue to collude with unscrupulous individuals. Some unsuspecting residents are even conned without their knowledge,” she said.
Tough Action Ordered
The 33 officers were suspended with immediate effect. They were told to hand over to their Chief Officers. Their names will also be sent to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
“Today I am here to name and shame them for stealing from the public. What they have been doing is intolerable. We shall pursue the perpetrators until we smoke out the very last of them,” the governor declared.
A Wider Crackdown
Governor Wavinya said this was just the beginning. She promised more investigations targeting corrupt networks within the county.
“We must shift from a culture that demands corruption to one that demands integrity. We must build systems that reward honesty, not shortcuts,” she noted.
She added that whistleblowers must be protected, not punished, if Machakos is to win the war on graft.
Building a Corruption-Free County
Wavinya vowed to create a new culture of accountability and transparency. Her goal is to transform Machakos into a corruption-free zone where residents can trust county services.
The suspension of the 33 officers marks the first step in what she described as a “wider crackdown” on fraud within county operations.
