Corruption has been a persistent issue during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure. From misappropriated funds to scandalous deals, Kenya has witnessed several high-profile corruption cases under his leadership. Despite numerous efforts to fight corruption, these scandals continue to erode public trust and drain the country’s resources.
In this article, we explore some of the most shocking corruption scandals that took place during Uhuru Kenyatta’s time in office, including billions of shillings lost through fraud, embezzlement, and poor governance.
1. List of Major Corruption Scandals Under Uhuru Kenyatta
Corruption has marred the Kenyan government in many forms, from dubious tenders to mismanagement of public funds. Below is a list of the most significant scandals that occurred during Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency:
Sh1 Billion: Kenya Pipeline Fuel Loss
- Details: A staggering KSh 1 billion was reportedly lost in a scandal involving the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), where it was alleged that fuel was spilled, and taxpayers might foot the bill for the loss.
- Year: 2018
Sh1.3 Billion: EPZ Authority Scandal
- Details: Three managers at the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) Authority were suspended over the mismanagement of KSh 1.3 billion.
- Year: 2018
Sh1 Billion: SGR Ticket Scandal
- Details: Millions of shillings were stolen from the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) ticketing system, raising concerns over corruption and inefficiency in state-run projects.
- Year: 2018
Sh30 Billion: Missing Funds in Six Counties
- Details: KSh 30 billion went missing from county governments across six regions. The Auditor General raised concerns about the misuse of public funds.
- Year: 2018
Sh4 Billion: Drought Agency Mismanagement
- Details: A significant amount of money—KSh 4 billion—could not be accounted for by the government agency responsible for managing drought relief programs.
- Year: 2018
Sh18 Billion: KRA Duty Stamp Scandal
- Details: The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) came under scrutiny after the Auditor General raised questions over KSh 18 billion allocated for duty stamps. The questionable tender process sparked investigations.
- Year: 2018
Sh2.5 Billion: Government Advertising Scandal
- Details: The government’s advertising agency was embroiled in a scandal involving KSh 2.5 billion in unaccounted-for payments.
- Year: 2018
Sh21 Billion: Affordable Housing Fund Reorganization
- Details: In a budget reorganization, KSh 21 billion was allocated to affordable housing projects, raising concerns about the allocation of such a significant amount of public money without clear outcomes.
- Year: 2018
Sh18 Billion: KPC Compensation Claim Scandal
- Details: The Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) faced allegations of misappropriation of KSh 18 billion through dubious compensation claims.
- Year: 2018
Sh200 Million: Chemelil Sugar Scandal
- Details: Chemelil Sugar Company officials were accused of embezzling over KSh 200 million, with the Auditor General’s office confirming the loss.
- Year: 2018
Sh6 Billion: Prisons Tender Scandal
- Details: A scandal involving KSh 6 billion was uncovered regarding irregular tenders awarded to contractors for prison services.
- Year: 2018
Sh2.1 Billion: Fertilizer Funds Mismanagement
- Details: KSh 2.1 billion meant for the fertilizer fund was reportedly misused by the Cereals Board, as found by an audit report.
- Year: 2018
Sh16.3 Billion: Tablets Tender Scandal
- Details: The government raised questions about the Sh16.3 billion allocated for the purchase of tablets, with concerns over inflated prices and mismanagement.
- Year: 2018
Sh3 Billion: Cooking Gas Contracts Scandal
- Details: The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched an investigation into the mismanagement of KSh 3 billion in cooking gas contracts.
- Year: 2018
Sh7.3 Billion: Galana Maize Project Scandal
- Details: The Galana irrigation project, which was meant to be a game-changer for Kenya’s agricultural sector, failed to meet its targets, with only KSh 35 million worth of maize produced after KSh 7.3 billion was invested.
- Year: 2018
Sh30 Billion: Parastatal Debts
- Details: Parastatals were found to be responsible for KSh 30 billion in shady debts, many of which were linked to irregular deals and mismanagement.
- Year: 2018
Sh2.5 Billion: Stalled Job Loss
- Details: The government faced a loss of KSh 2.5 billion on a stalled project, adding to the growing list of unaccounted public funds.
- Year: 2018
Sh1.3 Billion: KBC Legal Fees Scandal
- Details: The Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) came under fire for paying KSh 1.3 billion in legal fees to external lawyers in a deal that raised eyebrows.
- Year: 2018
Sh2.3 Billion: Rent Payments for Diplomatic Houses
- Details: Kenyan diplomats were accused of paying over KSh 2.3 billion in rent for homes in London and the US while government-owned properties sat unused.
- Year: 2018
Sh1.7 Billion: New KCC Embezzlement
- Details: The New Kenya Co-operative Creameries (New KCC) was unable to account for KSh 1.7 billion, sparking investigations into the loss of public funds.
- Year: 2018
Sh4 Billion: Women Reps Scandal
- Details: The Auditor General put women representatives on the spot for KSh 4 billion in missing funds allocated for their programs.
- Year: 2018
Sh9 Billion: Road Contractors Scandal
- Details: Contractors were accused of stalling road construction projects worth KSh 9 billion, despite receiving payments for the work.
- Year: 2018
