Multi-billion corruption scandals that rocked Kenya in 2018

As Kenyans, we are no strangers to scandals, but we may have probably witnessed more scandals in 2018 than any other year.

That doesn’t sound so bad, until you realize the amount of taxpayer money that was lost – or, more aptly, found their way into a few people’s pockets – through these scams.

Even worse is the fact that people have been arraigned in court over these dealings but they always seem to find a way to get out of it.

This then means that the Judiciary has its work cut out. Below are some of the biggest scandals of 2018:

National Youth Service (NYS) scandal II

The country allegedly lost about Ksh.10billion through the NYS scam; coming one year after Ksh.791million was lost in NYS scandal I.

Over 40 individuals were said to have illegally benefited from this year’s scam; most of whom were arraigned in court and charged with fraud, money laundering, abuse of office etc.

Among the top officials who were named in the scandal include former Public Service and Youth PS Lilian Omollo as well as ex-NYS Director General Richard Ndubai.

But, perhaps, most Kenyans mainly remember a then little-known woman in a blonde wig named Ann Ngirita who was paid hundreds of millions despite supplying air… I mean, absolutely nothing.

National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) scandal

A staggering Ksh.1 billion was reportedly lost through the Jambo Pay service at the NHIF; scam which led to the arrest and subsequent arraignment of top officials and board members at the instruction of Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.

As with Ann Ngirita in NYS, the NHIF scandal brought to the limelight one Fredrick Sagwe; a man with a modest job but immense wealth.

Sagwe worked as a Front Office manager at NHIF with a monthly salary of about Ksh.150,000 but was is said to have bought 8 houses in Athi River at Ksh.160 million.

Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) scandal

DPP Haji, in a statement to newsrooms, alluded to misappropriation of funds in the course of procurement and construction of the Kisumu Oil Jetty by Kenya Pipeline Company Limited at a cost of over Ksh.2 billion.

Haji, as expected, demanded answers; papers were drawn, calls were made and a host of top officials at KPC were rounded up and arraigned in court.

Among them was KPC Managing Director Joe Sang who was charged with abuse of office and willful failure to comply with applicable procedures and laws relating to management of public funds.

National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) board

The NCPB is reported to have lost Ksh.1.9 billion over alleged irregular purchase of maize that led to unscrupulous traders raking in millions of shillings at the expense of deserving farmers.

The scandal roped in top officials who were arrested and arraigned but later released on bail.

The NCPB scandal also brewed a political storm with a section of Rift Valley MPs, led by Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany) and Alfred Keter (Nandi Hills), accusing DP William Ruto of masterminding the scheme.

Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) scandal

The government lost at least Ksh.200 million through the Kenya Power scandal in which employees and contractors were also accused of registering companies to award themselves contracts and sneak in unqualified firms into the company’s database.

According to an audit seen by Citizen TV, the power company enlisted 525 firms; out of the pre-qualified firms, 354 were shortlisted with fake documents; and most of them were linked to KPLC employees.