An explosive exposé by sources inside the Homa Bay County government reveals a systematic looting of Ksh 200 million by senior officials.
Top county officials at the heart of the multi-million fraud include Chief Officer for Finance Mr. Alphonce Werah, Director of Procurement Mr. Peter Odiango, Accountant for Roads and Public Works Mr. James Wanga, and Procurement Officer for Roads Mr. Churchill Omondi Oyamo, all of who have been accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving fictitious pending bills for non-existent road projects.
At the close of the 2023/2024 financial year, the three officials, according to sources within the Homabay county government convened at the Governor’s residence in Olare Kochia, to forge documents to justify payments for non-existent roads.
Forged and uplifted signatures of former county officers, including Mr. Noah Otieno (former Chief Officer for Finance), Mr. Samson Okumu (Director of Procurement), and County head of accounts Mr. Dan Lieta, were used to legitimize the fraud.
The funds initially intended to pay genuine contractors for historical pending bills, were instead diverted to proxies and shell companies controlled by the implicated officials.
One of the key players, Mr. Churchill Omondi Oyamo, allegedly channeled the loot through a proxy company, TCHAVEK Enterprise Ltd. A sudden influx of wealth has reportedly enabled Mr. Oyamo to establish multiple businesses, including a nearly complete a multi-story building at Arunda Katuma area, raising suspicions about on the source of his funds.
Similarly, Accountant for Roads, Mr. James Wanga, is accused of using his company, LETHI Co. Ltd, to launder county money. The company operates M-Pesa outlets, some of which are located near Homa Bay Travelers Hotel and opposite Equity Bank.
Staff employed in these M-PESA outlets are listed with PF numbers as county government employees, drawing salaries funded by taxpayers.
Mr. James Wanga, county officials reveal, has rapidly accumulated significant wealth, including a nearly completed multi-story building in the Milimani area near Got Rabuor.
George Wanga, the Governor’s spouse has also been mentioned multiple times in the expose, with his companies WAPONYA Enterprise Ltd and TROIKA Enterprise Ltd, fingered to be involved, using employed drivers to draw salary from the county government coffers.
The loss of Ksh 200 million has had far-reaching consequences, stalling development projects in the county and denying legitimate contractors their payments.
Homabay residents are now calling on authorities such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Salary Renumeration Commission (SRC) and the Auditor General to audit the county’s finances and the forged road documents in a bid to recover stolen funds, and prosecute those responsible.
In addition, they want Safaricom Ltd under Mpesa unit to investigate LETHI Co. Ltd’s Head Office and its M-Pesa outlets for potential money laundering activities, while the banking sector must scrutinize financial transactions linked to TCHAVEK Enterprise Ltd and other implicated entities.
