By Anchor Writers

Residents troll Governor Ndeti on Social Media, Demanding Action Against Rotten Big Fish

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti today  stood before cameras to announce the suspension of 36 revenue clerks accused of fiddling with county finances.

What she failed to disclose is that these officers had already been interdicted a week earlier in the middle of a bruising turf war inside her Finance Department.

At the heart of the fight is Finance Minister Onesmus Kuyu and his lieutenants, Revenue Chief Officer Otieno Otieno on one side, and Finance Chief Officer L. Kasanga on the other.

The 36 suspensions followed Kasanga’s protest after storming into Kuyu’s office, accusing Otieno’s department of posting figures into the faulty system that did not match what was banked.

When Kuyu appeared to shield Otieno, Kasanga threatened to escalate the matter directly to the governor. The next thing, the low-cadre clerks were shown the door.

As she announced the purge, Wavinya was surrounded by Mr Kuyu,Mr Otieno, ICT Chief Officer Ian Obare, County Solicitor Juliet Nthambi, Ms. Mutanu, Inspectorate Chief Officer, Mr Munyambu, and CS Muya. Mr. Kasanga was missing in action. Body language from those in the picture showed they had just emerged from a heated meeting that may not have produced good results.

The move came barely days after County Secretary Dr. Muya Ndambuki suspended another 15 receipting officers, bringing the tally to 51 junior staff purged in what officials call a clean-up.

Yet, for Machakos residents, the message is clear: thievery inside county government is entrenched, and the dragnet only catches the small fish.
The governor released a list of those suspended, drawn from administration, trade, liquor, solid waste, ICT, billing, and revenue departments, and confirmed the cases had been forwarded to the DCI and EACC.

Those suspended are Purity kanini (administration officer), Joseph Martin Mutuku (Trade officer ),Mary Titus (liquor), Wickliffe Nzeki (liquor), Evelyn Wambua (cashier), Jacinta Kithuka (solid waste ),Mary Nthenya , Esther Mutunga,Brian Wambui, Phoebe Mbutu,David Witio Mutua,Sarah Katungwa Titus , Evelyn Ndanu Wambua,Hellen Muendo, Cynthia mumo, Charity Mbolu, Dorothy Nzioka Kasiva, Patricia Nthenya Mutisya,Jackline Musyoka, Meshach Kiminza (billing officers), Richard Muli Manthi (billing officer) Joseph Muli(billing officer) Maryanne Mbula (billing officer),Alice Maingi (billing officer), Marrietta Ndunge Munyoki (cashier), Clinton Sylivester Mwania (cashier),Mark Yawaya (revenue officer), Joseph Nthiwa (revenue officer), Joseph Mutuku (ICT ),Tony Ngige (ICT),Mutuku Stephen (revenue)and Jackline Livuva (revenue), Yvonne Chelangat (revenue) and Angelina Muindi (revenue).
But even as their names were paraded amid Wavinya’s tirade, the public demanded to know why the those they suspect to be culpable remain untouched.

Citizens on social media openly point fingers at Kuyu himself, accusing him of presiding over falsified accounts; at Otieno, whose department is said to be moving revenue stashes through secret channels; at Agriculture Minister Catherine Mutanu, linked to dam scandals when she was Water Minister; and even at Wavinya’s son, Charles Nzuki, alleged to operate through county cartels at the behest of the Governor.

At the centre of the fiasco is a revenue system presided over by ICT Chief Officer Ian Obare, who joinly presides over it with Wavinya’s son. The system is fabled for the ability to accept a single Mpesa entry and issueing many receipts from the single transaction, implying a good revenue flow.
“Theatrics,” is how locals now describe the governor’s press briefing. They say it is an insult to their intelligence to watch junior clerks sacrificed while senior officers and political kin walk free. Allegations swirl around the revenue from quarries in Mavoko, where millions flow daily into private pockets.

Here, according to sources, loyalist revenue officers long abandoned issuing receipts or the county revenue system, meaning  millions of cash raised goes to top officials’ pockets.

It remained curious that Wavinya did not refer to the looting in the quarries, most of them in her neighbourhood.

Inflated pending bills padded to Ksh. 4.3 billion against official records of Ksh. 2.8 billion by the governor herself only serve to avoid county responsibility and obligations to service providers.

Outright theft of revenue now means county staff are left with delayed salaries as funds vanish into cartels.

A Machakos resident is screaming: “Wavinya’s so-called war on corruption is a hoax. Behind the cameras, the rot festers at the very top.”

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