The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been called to investigate a massive Ksh 10 billion revenue loss in Kiambu County, following a Senate directive rooted in glaring financial irregularities between 2014 and 2022. The probe comes after Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee, where he exposed shocking revelations about the county’s revenue collection systems.
At the center of the scandal are three tech firms—Kiambu Pay, County Pro, and Zizi—that were contracted by previous county administrations to manage and collect county revenue. These firms were allegedly paid millions to build digital platforms that were expected to streamline operations. However, according to Governor Wamatangi, these systems were riddled with inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and deliberate manipulation.
In a testimony that shook the Senate, Governor Wamatangi disclosed that despite hefty payments, Kiambu County never retained ownership of the systems. Instead, the platforms remained in the hands of private firms, raising serious questions about accountability and data integrity. Even more troubling was the revelation that these systems were programmed to misreport transaction amounts, resulting in daily revenue losses.
A striking example presented to the committee involved the Thika slaughterhouse. A trader reportedly paid Ksh 20,000 for services, but the faulty system recorded only Ksh 16,000—and with a six-hour delay. Such discrepancies, if multiplied across multiple revenue streams over eight years, could explain the staggering Sh10 billion gap.
The Senate committee, chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang’, labeled the situation as a “sophisticated and entrenched fraud” that may have operated with internal support. Senators emphasized the need for urgent intervention by the EACC to hold those responsible accountable and recover lost public funds.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei noted that the loss was not just a financial scandal but a betrayal of public trust. “This is theft from the common mwananchi,” he stated, calling for forensic audits and prosecution of implicated individuals.
In response, Governor Wamatangi’s administration has taken decisive action. All contracts with the implicated firms have been terminated, and the county has adopted a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that ensures real-time transaction confirmations and transparency. Crucially, the system is now fully owned and operated by the county government, limiting third-party interference.
As investigations intensify, the Kiambu case may set a precedent for how counties handle revenue digitization and public funds. The probe is also a stern warning to county officials across Kenya: accountability in public service is no longer optional.
