The controversy surrounding Kitui County Chief Officer for Cooperatives, Paul Monyi Ngei, has taken a new twist after county staff confirmed long-standing allegations of harassment and misuse of public funds by senior officials.
In exclusive interviews with Channel 15 News, staff accused Ngei of engaging in underhand dealings during the recent Homa Bay Devolution Conference. They claimed that payments for services such as tent suppliers were irregularly settled in cash, while one female service provider faced delayed payment without explanation.
“There is likelihood that huge amounts meant for the trip were mismanaged. We are now calling for a full audit of the Homa Bay expenditure,” one insider told Channel 15 News.
Under Kenya’s Public Finance Management Act, government spending at public events is expected to be cashless and processed through proper systems. The revelation that services at Homa Bay were allegedly paid in cash points to a possible breach of financial regulations.
Channel 15 News Revelations
The new claims come just days after Channel 15 News first exposed how Chief Officer Ngei allegedly snatched Ksh 45,000 meant for fuel from his driver during the Homa Bay trip, leaving him unable to account for the funds. The incident forced Chief Officer for Finance, Revenue Management and Accounting, John Makau Kimwele, to intervene and reportedly order Ngei to return the money.
Sources also revealed that Ngei had traveled to the conference in the company of his wife, who serves as a ward administrator, using the same official vehicle.
Audit Concerns
In a further twist, insiders disclosed that recent audits in the Department of Cooperatives had already raised red flags over unexplained expenditures. Channel 15 News has begun the process of seeking access to those audit reports, specifically from the Cooperatives Department, to shed more light on the allegations.
Drivers Vow to Escalate
A source has now revealed that, angered even more by the Channel 15 News exposé, county drivers have vowed to rally together through their welfare association and formally report cases of harassment to the County Boss. The move signals growing unrest among junior staff who feel increasingly emboldened to speak out against alleged impunity at the top.
Calls for Investigation
The scandal, which began with a disputed Ksh 45,000 cash row, has now grown into a full-blown accountability crisis, with mounting calls for the EACC and DCI to move in and investigate possible misuse of public funds in Kitui County.
