Reports Place Kwale Assembly Clerk at Center of Ksh 20 Million Financial Misconduct Claims Linked to Multiple Bank Accounts

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. Reports circulating in Kwale County place the County Assembly Clerk at the center of KSh 20 million financial misconduct allegations linked to multiple bank accounts and questioned financial movements within the Assembly structure. 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 cont…

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. Reports circulating in Kwale County place the County Assembly Clerk at the center of KSh 20 million financial misconduct allegations linked to multiple bank accounts and questioned financial movements within the Assembly structure. 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 cont…