Kenya is reeling from revelations of a Ken Sh17+ billion scandal involving questionable government contracts, procurement irregularities, and massive financial losses across public services. These shady deals are more than just numbers—they represent betrayal of public trust and direct harm to ordinary citizens.
One glaring example is the loss of Sh17 billion by county water firms. An audit report by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu found that nearly half the water produced by 82 companies in 2022 was never billed. Leakages, illegal connections, flat-rate billing, and faulty meters all contributed to the massive drop in revenue. Nairobi Water alone lost around Sh9 billion, while several other counties followed suit with losses in the hundreds of millions.
In another case, the government awarded a Sh17.7 billion LPG facility contract in Mombasa to a Nigerian firm—Asharami Synergy—despite initial plans for the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) to develop the project. The move has sparked fierce criticism and demands for transparency over how the contract was awarded, particularly since only two firms submitted tenders.
These scandals are not isolated. They are symptomatic of systemic problems: weak accountability, opaque processes, abuse of procurement laws, and power imbalances that favour connected insiders. When funds meant for clean water, energy infrastructure, and essential services are siphoned off, Kenyans suffer. Households pay more for fewer services; some communities go without clean water; necessary infrastructure is delayed or abandoned.
Restoring trust requires sweeping reform. Transparent procurement, enforced oversight, public disclosure of contracts, and independent audits are non-negotiable. Civil society, media, and citizens must hold leaders to account. Otherwise, these billions will keep leaking away—while ordinary people foot the bill.
You must be logged in to post a comment.