Kisumu County City Manager, Abala Wanga, has been summoned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations of forgery and fraudulent acquisition of public funds.
The EACC confirmed on Thursday that it has received approval from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge Wanga with multiple corruption-related offences. Investigations revealed that he allegedly used forged academic certificates to secure his appointment as Kisumu City Manager.
Further, Wanga is accused of using falsified documents to facilitate travel and the payment of allowances for a female non-staff member who accompanied him on official duty to Lagos, Nigeria, from July 8 to 12, 2024. The woman was falsely presented as a County Government employee, resulting in irregular expenditure of public funds.
In a statement, EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud directed Wanga to report to the commission’s headquarters at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi for processing and arraignment.
“Being the City Manager of Kisumu, he used forged documents to facilitate travel and payment of allowances for a female non-staff member, who accompanied him on official duty to Lagos, Nigeria, disguised as an employee of the County Government of Kisumu,” the statement read.
Wanga faces four charges, including forgery, fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering false documents, and presentation of forged certificates. These charges follow the completion of EACC’s investigations in March, after a petition called for his prosecution. The petition alleged that Wanga’s primary and secondary school certificates were falsified.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) confirmed in a January 27, 2022 letter to the EACC that the certificates were not authentic. This development comes amid increased scrutiny of public officials’ qualifications and accountability in Kenya.
The case is expected to set a precedent in enforcing strict measures against corruption and misuse of public resources in county governments.
