Kenyans are furious as Auditor General Nancy Gathungu exposes a shocking scandal: millions of shillings in car loans and mortgages handed to MCAs, governors, and top county officials are disappearing into thin air when they leave office – or worse, die.
In a damning new report, Gathungu reveals that counties are advancing huge sums for luxury cars and posh homes, but there’s zero recovery plan when these leaders exit. No deductions from gratuity, no chase for balances – just public money gone forever.
“Millions advanced as car loans and mortgages may never be recovered,” the Auditor General warns, highlighting how officials “vanish” with the cash at the end of their terms or due to death. Taxpayers foot the bill while the big shots drive off into the sunset.
This isn’t pocket change. Past audits show counties risking close to Sh1 billion in defaults, with staff and MCAs delaying payments, resigning, or passing away before settling debts. Funds meant for roads, hospitals, and schools in places like Siaya are instead lining private pockets.
In Siaya County, residents are asking hard questions: How many of our own MCAs and officials have walked away with these soft loans? Why no securities like title deeds or logbooks to protect public funds? Gathungu’s findings echo nationwide rot – from Homa Bay’s overdue Sh69 million to unsecured loans in multiple assemblies.
Critics slam the scheme as a legalized heist. “These leaders borrow knowing they’ll never pay back,” one angry Siaya voter told Siaya Today. “It’s daylight robbery on wananchi!”
The Auditor General calls for urgent fixes: stricter recovery rules, proper securities, and no more free rides. But with elections looming, will counties act – or let the looting continue?
Kenyans demand accountability now. No more vanishing acts with our money!
