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Investigative agencies are on red alert over the security of public resources amid growing concerns that some unscrupulous officials could take advantage of the transition period to embark on a looting spree.

Focus has now shifted to counties where 22 governors are expected to leave office after serving for 10 years while 25 others face uncertainty over their re-election bid with possibility that some officers, who fear that they may not be part of the next administration, could exploit the situation to make a killing.

There are fears that some county officials may have started clearing genuine and fake pending bills, currently standing at Sh467.7 billion and Sh155 billion for national and county governments respectively, in a scheme that involves hefty kickbacks.

Already, investigative agencies have launched investigations following intelligence reports that some State officials could capitalise on the impending transition to loot.

Weighing in on the matter, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) chief executive Twalib Mbarak said: “We also have cases where some officials are demanding kick-backs from contractors and suppliers to expedite payment before elections.”

EACC boss also said they have established illegal hiring where casuals and contract staff are being put on permanent and pensionable terms following fears that the next administration may not consider them.

The EACC boss, however, warned that investigative agencies are fully alert those who contravene the law will not face the consequences.

Pending bills

Twalib says the rush to clear some of the pending bills is precipitated on the basis that should either Deputy President William Ruto or former premier Raila Odinga win the presidency, some Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries as well as heads of parastatals will be replaced with the new administration.

In counties, if a governor fails to return to office, all ministers, Chief Officers and other handlers of the county chiefs will automatically lose their jobs unless put on permanents terms.

This uncertainty, Mbarak says, has also triggered some of the officers to find ways to enrich themselves before their terms come to an end. Though the country has been experiencing massive theft of public resources in the last 10 years, experts say given the imminent change of regimes as a result of next month’s election, the risk of having public wealth stolen has shot up.

Chairman of Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee Kithinji Kiragu says public resources are at higher risk of being stolen by officials who fear they will not make it to the next regime.

Higher risk

“Though public funds can be stolen any time, the risk is higher during this time. But given that governors run independent governments, we cannot interfere with them on mere suspicion,” Githinji said.

Already, Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has fingered counties in what could lift the lid on the ongoing illegal employment, where governors are rewarding their allies with employment or improving terms of staff as part of their campaigns. Auditor General says in the first nine months of the 2021-22 Financial Year, salaries increased by Sh40 billion compared to the previous year.

Kinuthia Wamwangi, who chaired the defunct Transition Authority that mid-wifed the 2013 traction in counties, says some unscrupulous individuals take advantage of the transition to embark on looting.

Wamwangi says while undertaking inventory for assets and liabilities in the defunct local authorities in 2013, they encountered instances where individuals had stolen assets, mostly land and cars, after failing to reveal to the authority about their existence.