Machakos governor Wavinya suspends 36 officials over revenue fraud
Thirty-six staff attached to the Machakos County government have been suspended over alleged involvement in corruption and suspected embezzlement of county revenue,
In a statement issued today, Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti said the suspension of the staff is a decisive step toward strengthening accountability and good governance in the county.
The suspended officials include billing officers, cashiers, revenue officers, and ICT staff, all linked to malpractice in revenue collection and management.
“Today, during a press briefing, I announced the suspension of 36 county staff implicated in corruption allegations. This decisive action demonstrates our solid commitment to promoting integrity and protecting the interests of the people of Machakos,” the governor announced.
According to the Machakos devolved unit leader, the suspended staff members underreported collected fees, diverted county funds, issued fake receipts and permits.
Governor Wavinya said she has forwarded the names of the 36 staff members to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for prosecution and recovery of public funds.
Further, the Machakos county boss urged county staff to uphold virtue and ethics in their workplaces.
“Let us reject corruption, embrace transparency, and remain committed to serving our people with honesty,” she urged.
The suspension comes after a recent survey released by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has painted a grim picture of corruption in Kenya’s public service, with bribery emerging as the most common and entrenched form of unethical practice.
In their 2024 ethics and corruption survey, which analyzed the nature, prevalence, and impact of corruption across various sectors and countries, EACC has revealed an alarming level of bribery in employment, procurement, and public service delivery.
High-risk services include bursary applications, college admissions, NSSF and NHIF registration, and county land and housing services. The survey also identifies Kwale, Kilifi, and Wajir counties as having the highest likelihood of bribery, with citizens being asked for bribes more than once on average. In terms of prevalence, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Marsabit, and Wajir counties top the list, with all respondents in these counties reporting having paid bribes to access public services.
During the survey, Kakamega, Baringo, and Meru counties were identified as having the highest impact of bribery, meaning bribe payers in these counties were more likely to receive services than non-payers. The survey highlights a disturbing trend: paying a bribe significantly increases the chances of receiving a service.
“On average, counties where respondents paid the largest amount of bribes were Uasin-Gishu (Ksh 25,873), followed by Baringo (Ksh 16,156), Embu (Ksh 12,878), Homabay (Ksh 12,381), Bomet (Ksh 11,650), Kakamega (Ksh 10,013), Tana-River (Ksh 9,582), Kiambu (Ksh 7,982), Nyamira (Ksh 7,748), and Wajir (Ksh 7,275) counties,” the report highlighted.
At the bottom of the list, Isiolo County recorded the lowest average bribe payments at just Ksh 323, Marsabit at Ksh 700, and Turkana at Ksh 895.
Further counties with midrange payment of bribery include Narok, Ksh 4,010, Tharaka Nithi with Ksh 3,722, Nyeri recorded Ksh 3,678, and Siaya Ksh 3,454, while the capital, Nairobi County, recorded relatively lower average bribe payments at Ksh 4,718. The comprehensive analysis covering all 47 counties highlights the need for targeted anti-corruption interventions.
Some counties show bribe amounts nearly 80 times higher than others, underscoring the varying degrees of corruption challenges across the nation.
