City Hall Worker Who Was Earning Sh21K Monthly Salary At The Verge Of Losing Sh531M Estate To State Over Corruption

A Nairobi County Government procurement officer earning KSh. 21,000 monthly who has been battling a corruption case in court with Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), is at the verge of losing properties worth Sh537 million he allegedly acquired through corruption.

EACC alleges Michael Auka Ajwang who worked at City Hall received millions through kickbacks.

“We established that between January 2014 and June 2022 when he was employed as purchasing officer at City Hall, he engaged in acts of abuse of office and bribery by receiving millions of shillings through kickbacks from entities that were awarded tenders by the county government,” said EACC.

EACC argued that Mr. Ajwang was a junior procurement employee earning a Sh21,000 monthly salary, and couldn’t afford to amass the amount of wealth. Amongst his properties that were frozen by EACC included 11 vehicles, nine parcels of land and a 3-Star hotel in Kisumu County.

Some of the assets, the court was told, were traced to his spouse’s companies.

“He (Michael Ajwang) earns an average net monthly salary of Sh21,000. In the period under investigation (January 2014 to June 2022), he earned a net salary amounting to Sh2,122,232.56. Preliminary investigations established that Michael has been receiving monies suspected to be bribes from entities awarded tenders by Nairobi City County,” the EACC said in their suit papers.

Ajwang’s problems have escalated following with months ingestions by EACC and nowJustice Esther Maina has issued an order freezing Ajwang’s bank accounts and assets.

“The court hereby issues an order stopping the respondent, his servants or anyone acting on his behalf from transferring, selling or dealing in the listed properties pending hearing and determination of the suit,” ruled Maina.

The commission say their investigations have found that his legitimate sources of income didn’t match his estate worth and are therefore convinced they’re proceeds from corruption.

The commission reports that Mr Ajwang used his Hydeout Riviera Ltd to abet corruption and its through this firm that bribes and kickbacks from companies that he had awarded tenders during his tenure as procurement officer were channeled.

Each has valued his hotel in Kisumu to be worth Sh176 million, his seven pieces of land spread across Kisumu and Siaya to be worth Sh45.5M and his 11 card confiscated to be worth Sh14.5 million.

He had received Sh117M in his Mpesa account during the time of investigation and Sh187M in his bank accounts and Sh35.5M in his hotel account.

“It is only fair that the assets be forfeited to the state for being proceeds of corruption,” swore EACC investigator Feiza Abdi in his affidavit to support the application.

Justice Maina directed Ajwang to respond within 14 days and set hearing on June 13.