Corruption and poor oversight are undermining key development projects funded through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF), with dozens of cases now under investigation, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed.
Speaking on Thursday on behalf of EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud, Western Regional Manager Eric Ngumbi said 67 cases involving mismanagement of NG-CDF resources are currently being investigated. The cases relate to development projects, including schools and infrastructure, and involve procurement fraud, ghost projects, and other irregularities that threaten community development.
Ngumbi addressed a forum attended by more than 350 NG-CDF officials from 33 constituencies across Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, and Vihiga counties.
“The commission has taken up for investigation and other legal actions 67 reports relating to management of the NG-CDF in various constituencies across the country, and those investigations and other legal actions are at various stages within the criminal justice system. Among the matters under investigation by the commission is a case in which a private contractor was, in the last two years, irregularly awarded 49 tenders, and they paid over Sh66 million from various NG-CDF committees and NGAAF across 11 counties,” Ngumbi said.
He added that the commission is intensifying efforts to trace and recover unexplained wealth held by public officials suspected of misusing their positions to divert public resources and acquire assets through corruption.
The EACC urged NG-CDF managers and committee members to uphold integrity, transparency, and strict compliance with the law to ensure public funds reach the intended projects and benefit communities.
Ngumbi emphasised that proper fund management is key to promoting fair development and improving grassroots welfare.
The workshop, according to the commission, was organised to equip NG-CDF officials with the skills and knowledge needed to carry out their duties responsibly while investigations into reported malpractices continue.
Beyond prosecutions, the commission is targeting bribery at service points through intelligence operations, reducing direct human interaction, and promoting automated processes to increase accountability.
EACC is also monitoring capital-intensive projects implemented by national and county governments while conducting system reviews and corruption risk assessments to identify and close loopholes that enable misuse of funds.
The commission encouraged Kenyans to support government initiatives such as the Instant Traffic Fine System and the e-Government Procurement System, designed to reduce bribery and extortion. However, a court on Thursday halted the implementation of the Instant Traffic Fine System, which had been rolled out earlier in the week.
