Billions being stolen in dubious deals by top officials, says group

A new report has raised concern about widespread corruption and poor financial management on the back of an ailing economy.

The report by Africa Centre for Open Governance (Africog) and Okoa Uchumi partners outlines a pattern of manipulated policies, mismanaged loans, and opaque mega-projects, all tied to top government officials.

It recounts an admission by the former Attorney General Justin Muturi that he was pressured to approve loans irregularly. “This is not just financial mismanagement. It is a system designed to loot public resources through state machinery,” notes the report.

One of the most glaring concerns is President William Ruto’s alleged push for a Sh129 billion tree-planting deal with a Russian company during COP28 in Dubai, which bypassed due diligence. Okoa Uchumi labels the project, among other suspect carbon trading dealings, “a financial trap disguised as environmental policy.” 

Muturi also criticised attempts to revive the controversial Arror and Kimwarer dams projects, which had been shelved due to financial and audit concerns.

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The report also accuses the government of manipulating major programmes like the affordable housing scheme and the Social Health Insurance Fund to benefit politically connected financiers.

It also highlights the controversial ownership of the e-Citizen platform.

"We are seeing a pattern of elite capture, where public institutions are weaponised for private gain,” it notes.

Concerns were also raised about the mismanagement of a $279 million concessional loan meant for 16 China road projects, which were either abandoned or double-financed.

“We’re borrowing twice for the same roads while contractors claim damages daily. It’s theft in broad daylight,” the report read.

It also slammed the National Assembly for failing to exercise its budget oversight role. “Parliament has become a rubber stamp for retroactive approvals of unbudgeted spending. This undermines the Constitution and public trust,” the report read.

Okoa Uchumi called for urgent budget reforms, prosecution of those named in financial scandals, and stricter parliamentary oversight mechanisms.

“We cannot budget our way out of corruption,” the report advised, urging citizens to demand accountability even as the budget making process takes shape.