Who Is Profiting from Kwale’s Misery? An Investigation into Devolved Corruption

A storm of corruption allegations has engulfed Kwale County, with revelations that a small circle of powerful officials has allegedly transformed the devolved unit into a personal enterprise. According to multiple sources within the procurement department, senior officials are acting as power brokers, controlling all major county operations.

The central figures in this alleged scheme are the County Executive Committee Member for Social Services and Talent Management, Fransisca Kilonzo, and Finance Chief Officer Alex Onduko. An insider from the procurement department disclosed that nothing in Kwale moves without their direct approval. The source also revealed that Kilonzo has reportedly amassed significant wealth and continues to run private event management contracts within the county, a practice that allegedly began during the previous administration under Governor Salim Mvurya.

Frustrated county officials claim their attempts to bring these issues to the attention of Governor Fatuma Achani have been ignored.

“We even asked Mvurya to intervene, but everything is at a standstill,” one official lamented, highlighting a sense of helplessness and institutional paralysis.

This culture of alleged graft has had devastating consequences for contractors. The Commission for Human Rights and Justice (CHRJ), led by Mr. Julius Ogogoh, has taken up the case of End To End Limited, a construction company left in financial ruin. The firm successfully completed the Kombani Fresh Produce Wholesale Market over four years ago but has yet to be paid more than Ksh 50 million. Despite official records from September 8, 2021, showing the market was ready for occupation, the county government bizarrely cancelled the project on November 2, 2021. Today, the completed market stands vandalized and abandoned, a stark symbol of betrayal and corruption.

Independent investigations and reports from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) rank Kwale among the most corruption-ridden counties in the Coast region. Allegations of widespread mismanagement include the looting of Ksh 500 million in trade funds, the misappropriation of Ksh 26 million from the Trade Revolving Fund, and the diversion of funds intended for legitimate contractors and suppliers. The top county officials implicated in these schemes are Governor Achani, Finance CECM Bakari Sebe, Finance Chief Officer Alex Onduko, and Trade Chief Officer CPA Hassan Ngalaa Chuphi.

In response to the mounting crisis, the CHRJ has formally petitioned investigative bodies to take immediate action. The commission is calling for a thorough investigation into the implicated officials, demanding that Kwale County settle the over Ksh 50 million owed to End To End Limited, and urging for lifestyle audits to be conducted on senior officials. The CHRJ emphasized the need for decisive anti-corruption measures to protect public resources and restore faith in the county government.

The severity of the situation in Kwale is further underscored by the National Ethics and Corruption Survey (NECS) 2024, which identified Kwale, Kilifi, and Wajir as Kenya’s most bribery-prone counties. The survey found that Kwale residents were asked for bribes an average of 1.09 times per service, the highest rate in the nation. This culture of silence is pervasive, with a staggering 97.2% of victims never reporting such incidents.

While other counties like Uasin Gishu, Baringo, and Embu face issues with the size of bribes, Kwale’s problem lies in the sheer frequency of these illicit demands. In stark contrast, Makueni County recorded the lowest bribery likelihood at 0.61, highlighting the positive impact of strong governance and service integrity. The unfolding corruption scandal in Kwale paints a grim picture of devolved governance gone astray. Unless swift and decisive action is taken, citizens will continue to bear the heavy cost of stalled projects, lost livelihoods, and an irreversible erosion of public trust.