Governor Stephen Sang of Nandi County faces serious allegations involving illegal employment of unqualified individuals, including his relatives and close allies.
Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) have exposed a pattern of nepotism and corruption in county hiring practices.
For two weeks, the Nandi County headquarters have been declared a crime scene, with investigators seizing critical documents and summoning staff to uncover the extent of the corruption.
Governor Stephen Sang Relatives and Close Allies on the Payroll
The EACC’s investigations revealed that five individuals close to Governor Sang were improperly hired for county positions.
These individuals include Hottensia Sang, Patrick Kipkoech, Hillary Sang, Kipkoech Joash, and Emily Sang, all of whom are related to the governor. Notably, Hillary and Hottensia are the governor’s siblings.
Despite residing in Ireland, Hottensia has continued to receive a salary from Nandi County as an assistant director in education.
Similarly, Hillary took early retirement from the Kenya Defence Forces to join the county’s payroll after his brother became governor. However, in 2023, he moved to Uasin Gishu County Assembly, seemingly to avoid further public scrutiny.
Other individuals under investigation include Patrick Kipkoech, who has been on the payroll since 2017. He is currently working abroad as a porter in the UK but still receives payments from the county. The situation highlights a deep level of mismanagement and misuse of public funds.
Ghost Workers and Political Cronies
EACC also uncovered that many other individuals connected to Governor Sang are drawing salaries without performing any actual work.
These ghost workers include cleaning supervisors with minimal qualifications, whose main job is to defend the governor and attack his critics.
The officials in question, including Solomon Tarus, Joel Kogo, Kennedy Chirchir, and Elphas Kisorio (popularly known as Mashabik), were hired under questionable circumstances and wield significant influence in the county’s operations.
Further investigations are focused on individuals involved in political campaigning and praise-singing for the governor.
One such figure is Joshua Limo Kendagor, who composed campaign songs for Sang’s re-election and was rewarded with a top position in the county’s education department. Despite the lack of qualifications, he continues to hold a key role in the administration.
The investigation also points to the acting CEO of the county’s Public Service Board, Nancy Jeruto, who was promoted five times within three years without proper documentation.
Other officials like Godfrey Kipchirchir (communications), Chebii Faith, and Sammy Kiprono are also on the EACC’s radar.
Systemic Corruption and Nepotism
The investigations revealed a systematic pattern of hiring relatives, friends, and political allies. One example involves former Public Service Board (PSB) chairman Ezekiel Chemwor, who is accused of hiring multiple family members without following due process.
His wife, brother, sisters, and even a housemaid were placed on the county payroll with inflated salaries.
Despite having no assigned duties, they continue to receive payments, contributing to a ballooning wage bill that has negatively affected Nandi County’s development.
David Maiyo, a former PSB secretary, is also implicated in hiring ineligible individuals, further entrenching corruption within the county’s payroll system.
Nandi County Assembly Forms Investigative Committee
Faced with mounting public anger over wasteful spending and a bloated payroll, the Nandi County Assembly has formed an ad-hoc committee to investigate the situation.
Chaired by Kapsabet MCA Benjamin Matata, the committee is tasked with investigating financial irregularities, uncovering non-existent development projects, and recommending appropriate actions.
The committee’s key objectives include identifying violations of the constitution, probing how tenders were awarded, and finding ways to curb the county’s growing wage bill.
Several other MCAs, including Sarah Rubetty Nutwol, Julius Ketter, and Isaac Maina Shangu, are part of this investigative effort.
Also, the county faces challenges from unpaid bills and incomplete projects. The committee’s findings are expected to lift the lid on widespread corruption and mismanagement, offering a potential way forward for the embattled county.
Consequences for Nandi County
The irregular employment of unqualified individuals, combined with ghost workers and inflated salaries, has placed Nandi County in a precarious financial situation. Public resources have been misused, and ongoing projects have stalled due to the bloated payroll.
Governor Sang’s administration is under immense pressure to account for the corruption and clean up the county’s employment system. With the EACC and DCI actively investigating, the future of Nandi County’s leadership remains uncertain.
The scandal serves as a stark reminder of how corruption and nepotism can cripple a county’s development and erode public trust.
Nandi residents, already frustrated by the lack of progress, await the outcome of these investigations and hope for much-needed reforms.
