This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
On October 9, 2019, a shocking expose revealed the faces behind corruption, nepotism, impunity, and harassment in Mombasa county government.
Lands and housing county minister Edward Nyale was at the top of the list, accused of stealing millions of shillings from the county government through dirty deals.
Anti-graft agencies were working tirelessly to curb the vice, which had also affected other staff members from the parking and revenue collection unit, barriers and trade department, and traffic unit.
According to sources, Nyale had a habit of demanding money before approving any construction, with his eyes on lucrative deals including apartment constructions.
He had become an overnight wealthy individual, controlling vast wealth, including vehicles, prime plots, apartments, and a trail of women scrambling for his money.
However, it was business as usual in the revenue collection unit, where officers attached to barriers were on a get-rich-quick competition, collecting money and wiring it to their proxy accounts.
Some officers had channeled the proceeds to purchasing new houses and a fleet of vehicles.
Another notorious face was Ibrahim Basafa, the director of traffic and parking unit, who had selected a team of 30 men to terrorize transporters and private motor vehicles.
Each officer under his command was designated to seize and clamp at least five vehicles daily and demand a fee of Sh2,000 upon release, earning the team a whopping Sh300,000 daily.
Basafa was a famous and dreaded face within Mombasa city and its environs, owning three vehicles and constructing a mansion valued at Sh15 million in Mushomoroniturda.
Kongowea market officer Halima Saratoi was also reported to be notorious, arrogant, and corrupt, invoking the names of big people to protect her empire.
She was working in cahoots with Wazir Sud, ensuring that her fleet of trucks dodged charges of offloading whenever they brought goods to Kongowea.
The woman also owned plots within the market where hawkers were forced to contribute Sh200 per individual, earning her a cool Sh160,000 per week from all 800 hawkers operating at the Kongowea market.
