‘Small fish’ also netted in war on graft

The confidential report handed to Parliament by President Kenyatta last week is not all about big names and mega scandals.

It also contains the names of relatively junior public servants in both the national and county governments being investigated for scandals involving insignificant amounts of money.

Take the case of Mr Alex Musyoka Kimatu, the chairman of the Uwezo Fund in Mwala Sub-County, who cannot account for funds that he claims to have given to four self-help groups in his area of jurisdiction.

CLAIM PER DIEM

Or the case of the six members of the Makueni County Assembly being investigated for allegedly travelling to Dubai on a private trip sponsored by their area MP Patrick Musimba, only to return to the country and collude with Speaker Stephen Mutunga to claim per diem.

Then there is the case of Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Anne Adul, who is accused of embezzling county funds “by way of fictitious trips”.

The report also cites the case of the Taita-Taveta Procurement Officer Maxwell Mtende Mkalla.

His accuser claimed that a member of Mr Mkalla’s staff, one Scholar Okwaro, was influencing the award of county government tenders to a company called Vicron, registered in the name of her brother Anthony Okwaro.

Isiolo County Secretary and Payroll Manager Ibrahim Wako is being investigated for allegedly manipulating county funds.

Another interesting case is that of Isiolo Governor Godana Doyo and the county secretary, Mr Wako, who are also accused of forging a document purporting it to be the supplementary budget.

A Garissa Water and Sewerage Company official, a Mr Bulale, is being investigated for irregular procurement of two generator sets and sixteen pumps by the firm’s managing director.

There is also the probe into allegations that the representative of Hindi Ward in Lamu County, Mr Kassim Athmani Hassan, has abused his office by including his family members, relatives and friends on the list of people to be compensated because they were affected by the Lamu Port and transport corridor project.

DRUG TRAFFICKING

The former director of procurement at the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), Mr Hobadiah Orora, is facing investigations because he was overheard saying that KAA would not heed a directive that it retender a contract afresh using standard tender documents.

Yet another interesting case is that of Wilson Nkunja Kaberia, a magistrate in Kajiado County who is being investigated for allegedly acquiring massive wealth mainly from people of Somali origin who are said to be involved in drug trafficking.

Tana River Revenue Administrator Ismail Kodobo is also facing investigations over the manner in which he hired the revenue administrator in Tana North Sub-County.