Kitui County has been thrust into the national spotlight after the Controller of Budget (CoB), Margaret Nyakang’o, revealed it is among the top counties operating hundreds of unauthorized bank accounts in violation of public finance laws.
In her latest report, Nyakang’o disclosed that Kitui runs 350 illegal accounts, placing it second only to Homa Bay, which leads with 558. Other counties on the list of major offenders include Nakuru (311), Bungoma (301), Baringo (280), Kwale (240), Machakos (231), and Embu (222).
The CoB warned that maintaining such a large number of secret accounts outside approved frameworks heightens the risk of mismanagement and theft of public funds. “These accounts not only undermine accountability but also open doors for fraud at the expense of taxpayers,” Nyakang’o stated.
In contrast, some counties were commended for tighter fiscal discipline, with Nandi and Kisii (10 each), Siaya (15), Tharaka Nithi (16), and Murang’a (20) recording the lowest number of unauthorized accounts.
The report also assessed how counties are allocating resources. Nandi Governor Stephen Sang was ranked highest in channeling funds to development projects at 90%, followed by Trans-Nzoia’s George Natembeya (77%), Narok’s Patrick Ole Ntutu (74%), and Meru’s Isaack Mutuma (73%). On revenue collection, Kisii’s Simba Arati topped the list after his administration collected 178% of the targeted revenue, followed by Tana River (133%), Wajir (123%), and Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru (122%).
For Kitui, the revelations are expected to spark political and public debate, with pressure mounting on Governor Julius Malombe’s administration to explain how funds are being managed across the county’s sprawling network of accounts.
Nationally, the findings have intensified calls for oversight agencies to investigate how thousands of accounts were opened without authorization and whether taxpayers’ money has already been lost in the process.
