36 Machakos County Officials Suspended Amid Corruption Investigation

Machakos, Kenya — 2025-09-09 07:14 EAT. Governor Wavinya Ndeti suspended 36 county officials on Monday, September 8, over corruption allegations. The list has been forwarded to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). The governor ordered all suspended staff to cease duties pending investigation. 

The Latest

• What happened now: Governor Ndeti suspended 36 officials, including heads of trade, administration, licensing, revenue, ICT, billing, and cashier services, citing underreporting of fees, diversion of funds, and issuance of fake receipts and permits. 

• Why it matters: Signals a robust crack-down on corruption and a move to restore public trust in Machakos County governance.

• Status: Confirmed. Cases are now with EACC and DCI; investigations initiated. 

Context in Brief

Machakos County recently rolled out digitized revenue systems. Despite this, corrupt practices persisted, involving public collusion with staff to issue illegal permits and divert county funds. This action is part of a broader anti-graft campaign across county governments. 

Law, Policy, and Process

• Relevant statutes: County Government Act (2012), Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (2003), CrPC—cover misuse of public funds and duty of public officers.

• Mandates: Governor suspends; EACC and DCI investigate and prosecute; AG and Auditor-General monitor misuse.

• Required next steps: Staff must hand over duties immediately. Investigations, then possible disciplinary or criminal proceedings. 

Voices and Stakeholders

• Governor Wavinya Ndeti: “Today I am here to name and shame them for stealing from the public… There is no room for corruption in Machakos.” She urged staff to uphold integrity and transparency. 

• Public service ethics: Ndeti warned that fraudulent activity, especially in digitized systems, will be aggressively pursued, and the suspended are being handed over for prosecution. 

• Residents: No direct statements available yet.

Evidence & Data Box

• Numbers: 36 officials suspended.

• Departments affected: trade, administration, liquor licensing, cashiering, solid waste, billing, revenue, ICT. 

• Allegations: Underreporting fees, diversion of funds, fake receipts and permits.

• Verification: Confirmed through multiple media sources and direct statements from the governor. 

Risks and Implications

• Governance/Security: May boost citizen confidence if prosecutions follow. Risk of internal resistance or slow legal proceedings.

• Economic: Loss recovery hinges on investigations; service delivery may slow temporarily.

• Regional: May inspire similar anti-graft moves in other counties; gains traction in national anti-corruption discourse.

What We Don’t Know Yet

• Will the names of the suspended be made public?

• What is the expected timeline for investigations?

• Will impeachments or criminal charges follow?

• Are any senior elected officials implicated?

• How will suspended departments continue operating?

Timeline

• 2025-09-08: Governor Ndeti suspends 36 county officials.

• 2025-09-09: Public reporting confirms handover to EACC and DCI. 

• TBD: Investigations and potential prosecutions to follow.

What to Watch

• Next official action: EACC and DCI to initiate investigations and possibly press charges.

• Deadlines: No official timeline. Key to watch for investigative progress within 30–60 days.

• Signals: Auditor-General report, county internal audit, public notices, court filings.