This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
Devolution, a cornerstone of Kenya's governance system, has been hindered by the election of retiree politicians as governors. According to the Auditor General's latest report on Kisumu, one such politician, Professor Anyang' Nyong'o, has been accused of embezzlement.
Professor Nyong'o's alleged misdeeds include purchasing a cow for 3.7 million shillings, a price deemed exorbitant by many. The Auditor General, Mr. Edward Ouko, has been criticized for giving the professor a clean bill of health on financial accountability, despite the allegations of dishonesty.
Other governors accused of similar malpractices include Professor Kibwana of Makueni, who was once an agent of electoral theft, and Governor Cornell Rasanga of Siaya, who launched a round-about made of stones that cost millions. Dr. Alfred Mutua, the PR boy of Machakos County, has also been accused of looting the county dry with fake projects.
These retiree politicians, who have perfected the art of stealing public funds, do not deserve to be governors. Their election has hindered county development and undermined the principles of devolution.
