This archive report was first published on 12 December 2019.
Embu Governor Martin Wambora has been at the center of a long-standing impeachment battle since his election in 2013. Despite numerous attempts, he has managed to survive each time.
However, a recent audit report by the retired Auditor General has exposed a massive looting scandal involving Wambora and his allies. The report revealed that 19 main bank accounts held a total balance of Sh518,995,353, while 56 Danish International Development Agency Health facilities accounts had a total balance of Sh1,441,558, bringing the total to Sh521,436,911.
According to the Embu county Public Accounts and Investment Committee's chairman Phillip Nzangi, the accounts were operated against Section 82 of the Public Finance Management Regulations (County Government) 2015 Act. The report also revealed that two revenue accounts at the Runyenjes Level Four Hospital were being operated by strangers, despite the signatories having been moved to other departments or counties.
Unexplained withdrawals amounting to Sh34,751,498 were made from the accounts in 2017, while another Sh11,508,452 was withdrawn early this year. The hospital administrator, George Muthinji, was also found to be the banking agent for the two bank accounts, with the sole duty of accessing the bank statements.
Other suspicious accounts include the Runyenjes District Hospital accounts, which had credit balances of Sh554,289 and Sh15,814,210 as at July 24, 2019. The money was not declared to the county government.
The report implicated several individuals, including former health accountant Ruth Ndirangu, former medical superintendent Anthony Mulu, former county director of finance Edwin Rugendo, former director for health administration Anthony Mugendi, and former health accountant Musalia Eric, as main culprits in the scam.
Further investigation revealed that Wambora and his allies had transferred Sh25,700,000 from the Embu county treasury to the Embu Youth Trust Fund account. Additionally, Wambora cleared Sh170,517,267 for the Embu county education support fund account, despite an unspent balance of Sh10,821,866.
The report also revealed that Wambora and his alleged accomplices had fraudulently procured tree seedlings worth Sh17.5 million in the 2016/2017 financial year.
