The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has raised the alarm over rampant corruption in counties, exposing how officials and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) are exploiting weak systems and deliberate loopholes to loot public funds.
Speaking during the launch of a corruption risk assessment workshop for Kakamega County Government, EACC Western Region Manager Eric Ngumbi revealed that investigations have uncovered widespread collusion between governors, executives, and MCAs. The schemes include fraudulent tenders, fake pending bills, bulk imprest withdrawals, and the theft of hospital revenues.
MCAs have been singled out as key drivers of corruption, allegedly blackmailing governors and county executives with impeachment threats. According to the Commission, many demand tenders and jobs for their relatives and supporters, and those who resist are threatened with impeachment or transfers.
In one case, six MCAs are under investigation over tenders worth Ksh144.2 million awarded to 40 companies linked to their families and associates. In another, eight senior officials are being probed for fraudulent tenders amounting to Ksh1.4 billion.
Hospitals, legally allowed to retain revenue, have also been turned into “cash cows” for looters, with funds diverted instead of being reinvested into healthcare.
“Some public officials, especially in the counties, have betrayed public trust and transformed their positions into opportunities to enrich themselves, their families, and friends,” Ngumbi said. He emphasized that every shilling stolen denies children education, mothers healthcare, and communities vital development.
The recently enacted Conflict of Interest Act, 2025 is expected to help curb these abuses, but the EACC warned that success depends on how well counties implement recommendations from corruption risk assessments.
The Commission pledged to intensify asset recovery, lifestyle audits, and monitoring of capital projects, warning that obstruction of investigations is a criminal offence. “We must protect devolution from being hijacked by thieves,” Ngumbi concluded.
