A financial scandal is unfolding in Trans Nzoia County, where county officials are being accused of embezzling over Ksh 7.5 million meant for furniture procurement under the National Value Chain Development Project (NVCDP).
The money, initially allocated to empower farmers through ward-level savings and credit cooperative societies (SACCOS), was allegedly diverted without accountability. The rollout of a government-backed agricultural financing project in Trans Nzoia is in jeopardy following allegations of financial mismanagement by county officials.
As part of the NVCDP initiative, 25 SACCOS were established across the county, one in each ward, with the aim of facilitating affordable credit and other financial services to local farmers.
Each SACCO was awarded a Ksh 1 million seed grant to begin operations, primarily targeting agricultural lending.
However, shortly after disbursing the funds, the County Ministry of Cooperatives reportedly deducted Ksh 300,000 from each SACCO.
Officials informed the SACCOs that this amount was earmarked for the procurement of office furniture and equipment, a necessary step to establish functional offices for each cooperative.
Despite these assurances, none of the 25 SACCOs have received the promised furnishings more than a year later.
To date, no desks, chairs, shelves, or computers have been delivered to any of the ward-level cooperatives.
The total undelivered value stands at a staggering Ksh 7.5 million, raising serious concerns about procurement fraud and mismanagement of public resources.
Internal sources familiar with the operation say the funds were misappropriated by known individuals within the Ministry of Cooperatives, with no competitive procurement process ever initiated.
There are no tender documents, delivery receipts, or official procurement reports to explain how or where the money was used.
In one documented case, a SACCO received a meagre delivery of furniture valued at less than Ksh 300,000, far below the amount deducted from their grant.
In all other instances, the cooperatives have been left to function without basic infrastructure, operating out of temporary structures or borrowed spaces.
The lack of equipment has significantly hampered the SACCOS' ability to serve farmers.
Many remain non-operational or severely undercapacitated, unable to process loan applications or maintain proper financial records due to the absence of necessary furniture and office tools.
The NVCDP, a national initiative co-funded by the Kenyan government and international development partners, is designed to enhance productivity and market access for farmers through cooperative-based financial support.
Trans Nzoia’s implementation of the project now appears compromised by blatant financial misconduct at the county level.
Calls for a forensic audit into the matter are growing, with stakeholders demanding transparency and restitution.
There are increasing calls from within the cooperative movement and the broader farming community for the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to intervene and bring those responsible to book.
Meanwhile, farmers and cooperative members across Trans Nzoia continue to suffer the consequences of a stalled initiative that once promised to revolutionize local agriculture and improve livelihoods.
Below is a firsthand account from a whistleblower currently working within one of the affected ward-level SACCOS in Trans Nzoia, shedding light on the alleged systematic misappropriation of funds meant for the National Value Chain Development Project, and offering critical insight into how Ksh 7.5 million intended for furniture procurement was diverted without delivery or accountability. "Hello, hide identity. I currently work with Trans Nzoia in one of the SACCOS which fall under National Value Chain Development Project, the project requested each ward in Trans Nzoia to have a SACCO in all the 25 wards, each SACCO was awarded 1 million shillings to kick start their lending activities to farmers, however, the county officials deducted Ksh 300,000 from each SACCO with the claim of procuring furniture towards the SACCO, until today one year later, nothing was delivered, 7.5M for all the 25 SACCOS eaten by known individuals in the Ministry of Cooperatives. Additionally only Ksh 300,000 was paid."