Kisumu City Manager, Michael Abala Wanga, has been summoned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to appear in Nairobi for arraignment over multiple corruption allegations. The charges, approved by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), involve forgery, fraudulent acquisition of public property, misuse of public office, and falsification of records to facilitate a foreign trip for a female non-staff member, reportedly his girlfriend.
The alleged misconduct occurred during an official four-day trip to Lagos, Nigeria, between July 8 and July 12, 2024, where the companion was falsely listed as a county employee and received allowances at public expense.
“Michael Abala Wanga, being the City Manager of Kisumu, used forged documents to facilitate travel and payment of allowances for a female non-staff member who accompanied him on official duty to Lagos, Nigeria… disguised as an employee of the County Government, at the expense of the County Government,” said EACC Secretary and CEO Abdi Mohamud.
Wanga faces a range of charges, including:
Forgery (Sections 345 & 349, Penal Code)
Fraudulent acquisition of public property (Sections 45(1) & 48(1), Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003)
Uttering false documents (Sections 353 & 349, Penal Code)
Presentation of forged certificates (Section 34(a), Kenya National Examinations Council Act)
The case also highlights Kenya’s broader effort to verify academic credentials of civil servants, with the Public Service Commission (PSC) and Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) collaborating on digital verification. If convicted, Wanga could face substantial fines, imprisonment, and disqualification from holding public office.
“As part of our mandate to enforce accountability in public service, all individuals implicated in acts of corruption will be called to answer for their actions,” an EACC spokesperson added.
The EACC has directed Wanga to appear at the Integrity Centre to respond to the allegations.
The case shows the ongoing scrutiny of county officials and the commission’s commitment to rooting out abuse of public resources.
