Corruption is a major ailment in the present and past governments in Kenya. Under Uhuru Kenyatta’s government, several cases of embezzlement of funds were reported and the then President admitted that the country lost an average of two billion shillings daily to corruption. Cases ranging from KEMSA, NYS, Kimwarer and Arror dams were reported as billions of money were to a few corrupt leaders. Nevertheless, president William Ruto has vowed to Kenyans that he is ready to combat corruption.
Corruption and embezzlement of funds were devolved as governors crafted means of allocating money to their stomachs via unfair tendering and employment of thousands of ghost workers on the county payroll. A number of governors from different counties are reported to have consumed up to 35 billion of county funds in the payment of ghost workers. Six governors have been listed to have been actively involved in employing ghost workers.
Vihiga former governor Wilbur Ottichilo had 426 ghost workers who were paid over one hundred and thirty million. Mombasa’s former governor Hassan Joho paid three billion to a total of one thousand ghost workers over his term.
Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has constantly blamed the previous government for mismanagement.
Migori’s Okoth Obado paid 600 million to 314 ghost workers. Several cases and scandals were reported in his second term. Former Nandi Cleopas Lagat paid 12 billion to ghost workers, while Evans Kidero, in his single term in Nairobi, paid 6 billion to 2 260 ghost workers.
The Late John Nyagarama paid 13.9 billion to 736 ghost workers during his reign seven years before his death.
