Anti-corruption Groups Demand Accountability for Sh833 Million Spent on Stalled Projects
NAIROBI — A storm is brewing at the Ministry of Interior as a coalition of civil society organizations has launched a scathing attack against Chief Finance Officer John Nyabwari, accusing him of orchestrating what they describe as “systematic looting” of public resources.
The allegations, which emerged during a packed press conference at Nairobi’s Clarion Hotel on Thursday, come in the wake of a damning Auditor-General’s Report that revealed Sh833.65 million has been spent on eight stalled development projects despite their completion rates ranging only between 41 and 80 percent.
“What we’re witnessing is not just administrative incompetence—it’s calculated theft,” said Lydia Otieno, who serves as the spokesperson for the Concerned Citizens Coalition Against Corruption (CCCAC), one of the organizations spearheading the campaign. “These funds were earmarked for critical security infrastructure that directly impacts the safety of ordinary Kenyans.”
The Paper Trail: Eight Stalled Projects Worth Sh1.156 Billion
Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu’s latest report provides detailed evidence supporting these allegations, identifying eight specific development projects allocated a total of Sh1.156 billion that remain incomplete despite massive expenditures totaling Sh833.65 million.
The report’s most alarming case involves the proposed Migori district headquarters (Phase I), a project that began in July 2009 with a budget of Sh701.5 million. Despite consuming Sh539 million—77% of its allocated funds—over a staggering 16-year period, the project remains unfinished.
Other incomplete projects highlighted in the audit include:
- Tinderet sub-county headquarters: Sh30 million spent of Sh49 million budgeted
- Nandi South sub-county headquarters: Sh30 million spent of Sh48.5 million budgeted
- Bunyala DCC’s Office: Sh30 million spent of Sh47 million budgeted
- Tigania East DCC’s office: Sh73.1 million spent of Sh75.59 million budgeted
- Igembe North DCC’s Office: Sh25.4 million spent of Sh28.2 million budgeted
- Magunga district headquarters: Sh3.58 million spent of Sh8.5 million budgeted
- Kenya School of Adventure and Leadership hostel block: Sh102.4 million spent of Sh198.1 million budgeted
The coalition has compiled evidence suggesting that under Nyabwari’s financial leadership, procurement procedures were routinely circumvented, with contracts allegedly awarded to companies with questionable credentials or links to ministry officials.
Calls for Action
James Mwangi of the Kenya Accountability Network minced no words when addressing the gathered press: “John Nyabwari’s position has become untenable. Every day he remains in office is another day the public coffers are at risk.”
The coalition’s demands are threefold:
- Immediate dismissal of Nyabwari from his position as CFO
- A comprehensive forensic audit of all financial transactions during his tenure
- Criminal prosecution of all individuals implicated in the financial misconduct
“This isn’t about targeting an individual,” clarified Mwangi. “This is about dismantling a system that has normalized corruption and allowed public servants to operate with impunity.”
Missing Land Records for Critical Government Buildings
In a startling revelation that compounds the financial accountability concerns, the Auditor-General’s report also highlights serious issues regarding the ministry’s land ownership records.
According to Gathungu’s findings, the Ministry of Interior cannot produce documentation proving ownership of the land on which two of Kenya’s most important government buildings stand: Harambee House and Nyayo House.
Harambee House, which houses the Office of the President and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, and Nyayo House, which serves as the headquarters for the State Department for Immigration, Border Control, and Regulation of Persons, could not be traced in the department’s land register.
“The land register provided for audit was incomplete, with most of the required information fields left blank,” the report states. Even more concerning, the ministry lacks ownership documents for an astounding 4,151 parcels of land across the country.
While the State Department claims it is in the process of acquiring proper title deeds, the Auditor-General noted that no evidence was provided to demonstrate any progress in this effort. Some parcels also lack proper survey plans, making it impossible to accurately determine and demarcate their boundaries.
“In the circumstances, the existence of an effective control system to safeguard the State Department’s land could not be confirmed,” the report warns.
The Broader Impact
Security experts warn that the implications of these allegations extend far beyond financial mismanagement.
“When funds meant for security infrastructure disappear, it directly compromises national safety,” explained Dr. Maureen Ochieng, a security analyst at the Institute for Public Policy Research. “Police officers without proper housing, stations without basic equipment, and communities without security presence—these are the real-world consequences of corruption in security sector financing.”
The coalition has announced plans to escalate their campaign, including peaceful demonstrations outside the ministry headquarters next week and the launch of a public awareness drive dubbed “Your Taxes, Their Pockets.”
“This is not just about one official or one ministry,” Otieno emphasized as the press conference concluded. “This is about reclaiming our democracy from the clutches of corruption. And we will not rest until justice is served.”
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