The glitter of Kisumu’s modern skyline has dimmed under the weight of fresh corruption allegations as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) zeroes in on City Manager Michael Abala Wanga, a man once praised for transforming the lakeside city’s urban image.
The EACC on Thursday confirmed that Wanga has been summoned to the Integrity Centre in Nairobi to face charges of forgery, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and uttering false documents — a scandal that now threatens to upend his career and embarrass the Kisumu County Government.
According to EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud, investigators have obtained the concurrence of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge Wanga following months of probing his alleged use of fake academic certificates to secure his current position.
But the controversy doesn’t end there. The City Manager is also accused of facilitating the travel of a woman — not employed by the county — on an official trip to Lagos, Nigeria, in July 2024, using forged documents and taxpayer-funded allowances.
EACC’s statement paints a picture of a meticulously planned deceit.
From 8th to 12th July 2024, Wanga reportedly led a Kisumu delegation to Lagos for an “urban planning and waste management exchange program.” But documents obtained by Citizen Digital Investigations reveal that one of the travelers — a woman described in travel manifests as “County Liaison Officer” — was not a county employee.
The EACC now alleges that Wanga personally signed off her inclusion, presenting her as a legitimate officer, thereby authorizing the release of per diem payments, tickets, and accommodation funded by Kisumu County coffers.
“This was a deliberate and fraudulent act, executed under official authority, resulting in the loss of public funds,” an investigator familiar with the case told Citizen Digital on condition of anonymity.
The scandal first surfaced in 2022, when whistleblowers petitioned the EACC to probe Wanga’s academic credentials, claiming his primary and secondary school certificates were fabricated.
A Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) letter dated January 27, 2022, confirmed the suspicions — the certificates did not exist in their records.
Despite that revelation, Wanga retained his seat as City Manager, even participating in high-level urban development summits, ribbon-cuttings, and cross-border delegations — until this week, when the anti-graft agency finally moved in.
According to the EACC brief, the Kisumu City Manager faces four counts under the Penal Code and Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, including:
1. Forgery — presenting fake academic documents.
2. Uttering false documents — knowingly submitting the forged papers for official use.
3. Fraudulent acquisition of public property — using forged documents to secure employment and public funds.
4. Abuse of office — using his position to facilitate irregular foreign travel.
If found guilty, Wanga could face a prison term exceeding 10 years, heavy fines, and automatic disqualification from public office.
Sources within the Kisumu County Assembly revealed that senior officials were in “crisis meetings” Thursday afternoon following the summons.
“There’s panic everywhere — some people fear that the investigation could widen to include other senior officers who approved the travel,” one senior source said.
Attempts to reach Wanga for comment were unsuccessful. His phone went unanswered, and text messages sent to his known contacts remained unread by press time.
However, insiders close to him described the EACC probe as “politically motivated,” alleging that “powerful forces” within Kisumu politics are seeking to “cut him down to size.”
Abala Wanga, a cousin of Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa’s Chief Officer, rose to prominence in Kisumu for his hands-on management style, especially during Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s administration.
He spearheaded ambitious city projects — from street lighting and drainage upgrades to the controversial eviction of informal traders around Oginga Odinga Street.
To his supporters, Wanga was the face of Kisumu’s urban renewal. To critics, he symbolized the unchecked arrogance of county bureaucracy.
Now, with EACC’s net closing in, his once-promising administrative career and budding political ambitions face a crushing blow.
The unfolding saga is likely to test Governor Nyong’o’s legacy and Kisumu’s commitment to transparent governance.
For a city that has invested heavily in cleaning up its image — hosting international events like the Africities Summit and positioning itself as an emerging regional hub — the scandal is a major setback.
EACC has vowed to “leave no stone unturned” in its quest to recover public funds and restore integrity within Kisumu’s leadership.
Editor’s Note:
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