Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga is facing scrutiny over a Sh7.2 billion civil judgment, previous fraud proceedings, and corruption charges.
A High Court judgment found that Wanga demanded Sh10 million before a contractor could establish tuck shops on gazetted sites, suspended the agreement after the demand was not met, and exposed Kisumu County to billions of shillings in liability.
High Court Blamed Wanga for Sh7.2 Billion County Liability ¶
On February 27, 2025, Justice Mwanaisha Shariff awarded Spacebuster Limited Sh7,203,330,000 against the Kisumu City Board and County Government of Kisumu.
The dispute arose from a December 2, 2020 contract under which Spacebuster was to operate container-based tuck shops. The agreement required the county to compensate the contractor for the remaining period of the ten-year arrangement if the county caused its termination.
The court heard that Wanga, who signed the agreement, demanded Sh10 million before approvals could be granted for each new site. Justice Shariff found that the demand was to be repeated for every new area and that Wanga later suspended the project, called a press conference, and oversaw demolition of the structures.
The county did not cross-examine the contractor's witness or call for evidence of its own.
In her judgment, Shariff said Wanga had exposed taxpayers to liability through personal interest and described the project as having been sacrificed to selfishness and corruption. The findings were made in a civil case.
County Faces Massive Financial Exposure ¶
The judgment created a financial challenge for Kisumu, which must deal with the decree alongside supplier debts and other legal claims.
The county's 2025/2026 approved budget was about Sh16.33 billion, making the decree a substantial portion of its budget.
On September 23, 2026, county finance executive George Okong'o raised concerns about court decrees and said the county had complained to the Judicial Service Commission about some judges.
Spacebuster has pursued further court action seeking enforcement of the judgment, adding pressure on officials.
Wanga Faces Questions Over Fraud and Academic Certificates ¶
In November 2025, the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission said the Director of Public Prosecutions had approved charges against Wanga over alleged forged academic certificates and fraudulent acquisition of public property.
EACC said investigations found that Wanga allegedly used certificates showing a KCSE mean grade of C+ while the Kenya National Examinations Council had indicated his genuine grade was D+. EACC further alleged that Wanga received about Sh8.7 million in salaries and allowances after securing his appointment using the disputed documents.
Wanga has not been convicted in that case.
Lagos Trip Triggered Additional Charges ¶
The same investigation involved a July 2024 trip to Lagos, where prosecutors alleged Wanga altered an invitation letter and used it to obtain excess facilitation of about Sh283,402.
EACC also alleged that a woman who was not a Kisumu County employee was presented as part of the official delegation, enabling her to receive county-funded allowances.
The allegations led to charges of forgery, uttering false documents, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and presenting forged certificates.
On April 13, 2026, the Milimani Anti Corruption Court allowed the prosecution to withdraw the charges under Section 87A of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The withdrawal was not an acquittal and left room for the charges to be brought again.
Earlier Fraud Conviction Adds To Wanga's Record ¶
Wanga also has an earlier criminal case involving the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board, where he previously served as chief executive.
In August 2019, a Kiambu court convicted him of fraud-related offenses and sentenced him to six months in prison without the option of a fine. He appealed against the conviction and remained out of prison while pursuing the appeal.
In December 2025, a civil court awarded Wanga Sh5 million against the same Board over a 2014 notice and recorded that he had subsequently been acquitted of the fraud counts the Board had relied upon.
That distinction matters. The 2019 conviction was a court decision, while the later acquittal concerned the criminal charges after the appeal process. Neither should be presented as evidence of guilt in the current EACC allegations.
The unresolved questions around Wanga involve the Sh7.2 billion civil judgment, the withdrawn corruption case, and earlier fraud proceedings.
As Kisumu approaches another political cycle, his public record is likely to face closer examination.
The central issue is whether the court findings, withdrawn charges, and legal history will be explained by an official seeking continued influence in Kisumu.
For taxpayers, the immediate concern remains the Sh7.2 billion decree and how the county can meet it without undermining essential services and development spending.
