Graft in Counties: How the System Fails the People
💥 Introduction: Devolution’s Double-Edged Sword
🧨 The Scale of the Scandal: Billions Down the Drain
📊 Notable Statistics:
 |
| (Image Credit: Radware) An image of Graft in Counties: How the System Fails the People. |
🔥 The Most Infamous County Graft Cases
1. Kiambu County – Ferdinand Waititu
2. Nairobi County – Mike Sonko
3. Busia County – Ojaamong Case
🧱 How the System Fails the People
🚑 Healthcare Crises
🛤️ Fake Roads, Real Suffering
📚 Education in Ruins
😡 Citizens Disillusioned
🧠 Why Is County Graft So Rampant?
1. Weak Oversight
2. Procurement Cartels
3. Fear and Silence
4. Public Apathy
🛑 Who’s Watching the Watchmen?
🏛️ EACC
🧾 Office of the Auditor General
⚖️ Judiciary
🧑⚖️ The Senate
💬 Voices from the Ground: What Kenyans Say
✅ The Way Forward: Can the System Be Fixed?
1. Real-Time Budget Transparency
2. Citizen Watchdogs
3. Performance-Based Disbursement
4. Whistleblower Protection
5. Independent County Auditors
🧭 What You Can Do
📌 Conclusion: Reclaiming Devolution from Corruption
graft in counties, county corruption in Kenya, devolution failures, misuse of county funds, procurement cartels, corruption in healthcare, EACC investigations, weak oversight in counties, whistleblower protection in Kenya
Explore the deep-rooted corruption crippling Kenya’s devolved county governments. Learn how graft derails development, erodes trust, and what must be done to reclaim integrity in public service.
When Kenya adopted devolution in the 2010 Constitution, it was hailed as a bold step toward equitable development. Power was decentralized, with billions of public funds allocated to counties, and citizens hoped for improved roads, healthcare, education, and job opportunities.
But over a decade later, devolution’s dream is under siege not from lack of policy, but from rampant graft in counties. From Kiambu to Kakamega, numerous governors and MCAs have faced allegations or convictions for the misappropriation of funds, shady tenders, ghost projects, and outright theft.
This is not just a political problem—it’s a betrayal of the people.
Since 2013, Kenya’s 47 counties have collectively received over KSh 3.5 trillion from the national government. However, according to the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), a significant portion of this money has allegedly disappeared into private pockets.
-
In 2023 alone, EACC flagged KSh 13 billion lost to corruption in counties.
-
Over 35 governors have been investigated for corruption since 2013.
-
Projects worth billions remain stalled, nonexistent, or substandard.
🔎 County corruption in Kenya, devolution failures, county graft in Kenya, misuse of county funds
Found guilty of irregular tenders worth KSh 588M and sentenced to 12 years. Waititu’s case is a landmark conviction in the fight against county-level graft.
Impeached for gross misconduct, Sonko faced charges of misappropriating over KSh 357 million.
Governor Sospeter Ojaamong was accused of embezzling KSh 8 million through a questionable waste management deal.
Each case reveals a pattern: inflated tenders, insider deals, and intimidation of whistleblowers.
Corruption in countries hurts more than the economy. It destroys hope.
Medical supplies disappear. Hospitals remain understaffed. Mothers die giving birth in poorly equipped wards. All while billions are budgeted and spent—on paper.
💡 See our report on Health Scandals in County Hospitals ➜
Many county roads are built on paper, not on the ground. Residents are left to battle floods and impassable terrain because money meant for development ends up in private bank accounts.
Poorly built ECDE centers collapse. Bursary funds are awarded to undeserving politically connected families.
Kenyans are losing faith in both devolution and democracy. Voter turnout is declining. Youth are disengaged. Communities feel abandoned by leaders they voted for.
Several factors make county governments a ripe ground for corruption:
Senators, MPs, and MCAs often prioritize their interests over accountability and transparency. The watchdogs are either sleeping or eating.
County tender processes are manipulated. Companies linked to relatives, allies, or the governor himself are awarded lucrative deals.
County employees and citizens fear victimization. Whistleblowers are demoted or threatened. Lack of protection discourages reporting.
Years of impunity have led many to believe “nothing changes.” People suffer in silence, which emboldens corrupt leaders.
🔎 Keyword Focus: why counties are corrupt, procurement cartels in Kenya, failure of oversight in devolution
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has intensified investigations but often faces pushback, political interference, and lengthy court processes.
Their annual reports expose rot in counties, but few follow-up actions are taken.
Although convictions like Waititu’s are commendable, many cases drag on for years or are dismissed due to technicalities.
Supposed to supervise counties, but often ends up politicizing issues or shielding “friendly” governors.
“Our dispensary has no medicine. Yet every year, the governor’s report shows millions spent on health.” – Resident, Marsabit.
“We thought devolution would change our lives. Now, it's just more powerful thieves closer to home.” – Youth leader, Kakamega.
“If you speak out, you’re finished. Jobs go to loyalists and relatives, not qualified people.” – Former County Procurement Officer.
Counties must digitize budgets and expenditures. Citizens should be able to track their spending online in real time.
Open County Portal (by the National Treasury)
Civil society, youth groups, and community forums must be empowered to track and report graft without fear.
The National Treasury should link disbursements to actual, audited performance. Counties that misuse funds should face real consequences.
Laws must protect those who expose graft, ensuring they don’t face career or personal retaliation.
Whistleblower Protection Bill (Kenya Law Reform Commission)
Auditors should be selected independently, not by governors, to avoid bias and conflict of interest.
Check out this link. The Health Ministry steps up collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross Society.
-
Attend public participation forums.
-
Demand accountability from your MCA and governor.
-
Support media and organizations exposing corruption.
-
Vote wisely—don’t reward known looters.
Devolution was never the problem. Corruption is. Kenya must reclaim the dream of counties being engines of grassroots development, not dens of elite looting.
The question is no longer “Are counties corrupt?” — it’s “How long will we let them rob us blind?”