A wave of reports circulating across Kwale County through local blogs and online platforms has drawn attention to how public resources are managed within county institutions, with focus now shifting to senior leadership at the County Assembly.
At the center of these reports is Fatuma Hassan Mwalupa, Clerk of the County Assembly of Kwale, whose name appears in emerging claims tied to financial movements said to involve Ksh 20 million spread across 20 separate bank accounts.
Questions being raised around these accounts relate to influence, authority, and control within the Assembly structure, with growing discussion on how procurement and financial decisions are handled at administrative level.
A source described as a contractor familiar with internal processes, speaking on condition of anonymity due to safety fears, describes the Clerk as a highly influential figure within the Assembly environment.
According to the source, internal systems are said to operate through controlled networks where financial approvals and procurement processes are not always handled through direct public procedures.
The same source claims that intermediary companies are often used in contracting arrangements, some allegedly linked to Somali business networks, with suggestions that these firms are preferred due to flexible pricing structures and commission-based deals.
The source further states that they hold documentation they believe supports these claims and also alleges they have previously faced retaliation linked to attempts to raise concerns internally.
Kwale County Assembly under pressure
Separate reports also place County Assembly Speaker Seth Mwatela Kamanza alongside the Clerk in discussions linked to possible impeachment considerations tied to governance and financial accountability.
These developments follow earlier structural changes within county administrative bodies, including the dissolution of the County Public Service Board and appointment of new members, moves widely interpreted as part of broader governance realignment.
The following allegations are associated with the two leaders in circulating reports.
Corruption and financial management claims
The Clerk is reported to have been questioned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in connection with financial conduct and compliance with public finance rules.
The Speaker is also mentioned in claims suggesting coordination with the Clerk in financial arrangements under scrutiny.
Auditor-General findings and staffing structure
Audit records referenced in circulating reports point to a series of governance and financial issues within the County Assembly, particularly around staffing composition and payroll arrangements, forming part of wider concerns raised in oversight findings.
Staffing levels
Reports indicate that the County Assembly employed 126 staff members, exceeding the recommended cap of 100 set by the Commission on Revenue Allocation.
An additional 159 temporary staff are said to have been irregularly attached to Members of County Assembly offices and the Speaker’s office.
Salary and deduction issues
Nine employees are reported to have had deductions consuming more than two-thirds of their salaries, contrary to labour regulations.
Some staff members are also said to have gone for extended periods without receiving salaries.
Asset management and infrastructure projects
Audit records referenced in circulating reports point to gaps in how county assets and infrastructure projects were managed, particularly in relation to cost control, project execution timelines, and utilization of public resources.
Assembly building costs
A construction project initially valued at KSh 508 million is reported to have risen to KSh 624 million after contractor changes.
The project was later discontinued in 2022 after KSh 155 million had already been spent, with limited progress recorded.
Vehicle fleet
Out of six county vehicles, only two were operational during the audit period.
The remaining four were grounded, leading to increased reliance on hired transport services.
Questioned expenditure items
Audit reports referenced in circulation flagged conference-related spending amounting to KSh 15.9 million, with missing procurement records and unclear justification for costs incurred.
Public accountability appearances
Both the Clerk and Speaker are reported to have appeared before Senate CPAC sessions to respond to Auditor-General queries regarding financial statements, although follow-up actions remain unclear according to circulating accounts.
Expanding claims beyond the County Assembly
Beyond the Assembly, attention has extended to procurement activity within Kwale County, where additional reports point to alleged networks involving politically connected families and senior officials.
One of the central claims involves a family linked to Social Service and Talent Management CECM Francisca Kilonzo, with allegations suggesting procurement activity worth over KSh 150 million through county contracts.
Companies named in circulating reports
Reports circulating across local outlets point to several firms that have been mentioned in connection with county procurement flows, with attention drawn to how contracts and payments are distributed across linked entities.
Diani Occasions
Owned by the late nephew of Kilonzo, Muema Christopher Kilonzo, the company is said to have received KSh 33,670,500 despite limited visible project activity.
Mutanga Investments
Registered under the name of Kilonzo’s late mother, the company is reported to have secured contracts worth KSh 266,644,200.
Directors listed in reports include Peter Njagi, Catherine Sonia Wairimu Mahan, Abraham Vinner, Yvonne Murugi Mimano, Rose Mumbi Minamo, Charlotte Wamuyu Mimano, and Ian Mbuthia Mimano.
R Flink
Linked to Fatuma Kilonzo, the company is reported to have received KSh 90,296,011.
It is described in circulating material as a firm with minimal visible operations despite large financial inflows.
Role of Chief Officer Alex Thomas Onduko
Chief Officer of Finance Alex Thomas Onduko is also mentioned in circulating reports linked to procurement and financial arrangements under scrutiny.
He is associated with Cloemart Company, which reportedly secured a KSh 16 million tender for construction of an oxygen plant at Msambweni Hospital during the 2021/2022 financial year.
Cloemart is also linked to the Kilolapwa Laboratory project, which is said to have absorbed large public funds amid questions over execution.
Separate claims also link Onduko to accumulation of assets worth over KSh 200 million within three years, allegedly through questionable financial activity.
Other officials mentioned in reports
Additional county officials named in circulating accounts include:
• Masoud Shughuli
• Salim Nzimbu
• Hamedi Mwabudzo
• Bakari Hassan Sebe
• Joto Ali Mwachirumbi
• Hamisi Bweini Dzila
They are linked to allegations involving procurement approvals, payment processes, and coordination within contracting networks.
Calls for investigation and action
Growing public reaction has been recorded across Kwale County, with residents, civil society actors, and local leaders calling for formal investigations into the claims.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is being urged to intensify inquiries, while the Asset Recovery Agency is being called upon to trace assets believed to be linked to disputed public funds.
Past corruption cases in Kwale
Kwale County has previously been associated with corruption-related cases involving senior officials.
In 2014, EACC arrested then County Head of Treasury Vincent Mbito alongside four relatives over alleged procurement fraud.
The case involved Chilongola Holdings and Rome Investments (K) Limited, which were linked to multiple county contracts.
Those named included:
- Vincent Chirima Mbito – County Head of Treasury
- Mongo Mbito Mongo – County Revenue Officer
- Hassan Shilingi Mbito – Driver, Kwale Water and Sewerage Company Limited
- Mwaiwe Mongo Mbito – County Procurement Officer
- Chindoro Mongo Mbito – Ministry of Health
The companies are said to have been awarded 10 contracts involving supply of goods and services worth KSh 44,919,341 and KSh 4,007,943 respectively, allegedly processed using irregular documentation.
The Unanswered Question
As multiple claims continue to surface, scrutiny around governance structures in Kwale County has intensified, particularly regarding accountability and oversight in public resource management.
What was designed as a devolved governance system aimed at improving service delivery is now, according to critics and residents, being viewed through the lens of repeated allegations of resource misuse.
The central question now being raised across the county remains unresolved: who is responsible for oversight when power and resources intersect at this level of administration?
