GARISSA, Kenya – Garissa County faces fresh scrutiny after revelations that the county government spent over KSh 40 million on an unbudgeted cultural event in May 2025, sparking outrage among residents already grappling with water shortages, inadequate healthcare, and unpaid bills.
The May 16 event, themed “Celebrating Timeless Traditions Woven in Unity,” has intensified corruption allegations against Governor Nathif Jama’s administration, adding to a pattern of financial mismanagement that has plagued the county for years.
Unaccounted Cultural Spending
The cultural festival was not included in either the main or supplementary budgets for the 2024/2025 financial year, according to Garissa County Assembly Budget Committee Chair Hajir Dahiye.
“There was no money allocated for that event as far as we know, and as a committee, we are going to question the relevant officials involved,” said Dahiye, who also represents Abakaile Ward.
The event featured high-profile guests including Ethiopia’s Somali Region President Mustafe Muhumed Omar, Somalia’s MP Abdirashid Hidig, Council of Governors Chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi, and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.
Cultural performances by communities from across Kenya—including the Borana, Maasai, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Mijikenda, Meru, and Kisii—were accompanied by camel races and boat competitions.
Sub-county administrators reportedly received between KSh 100,000 and KSh 300,000 each to coordinate transport and accommodation for performers.
Public Outcry Over Misplaced Priorities
Local leaders have condemned the expenditure as wasteful given the county’s struggling public services. Muktar Dahir Osman, Chairman of the Garissa County Human Rights Network, expressed frustration: “Today we have a huge problem of water; the county cannot give the people of Garissa water, and here they are spending millions for cultural events. This is so sad and unfortunate.”
Osman argued that since devolution began, Garissa has “nothing to show” for its development, citing the cultural event as evidence of misplaced priorities.
Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Mohamed Abdi Umal accused Governor Nathif of setting a poor example for North Eastern Province counties, while critics questioned the event’s tangible benefits to residents struggling with underfunded health, education, and water services.
Official Denials Met with Skepticism
County Secretary Mohamud Mursal denied that county funds were used for the event, claiming it was sponsored by “well-wishers.” However, no details about these alleged sponsors have been provided, fueling suspicions given the county’s history of opaque financial dealings.
The County Assembly’s Budget Committee has vowed to investigate the expenditure and hold responsible officials accountable.
History of Corruption Allegations
This latest controversy adds to mounting corruption allegations against Governor Nathif, who previously served as Garissa’s inaugural governor from 2013 to 2017 before reclaiming the position in 2022.
The most explosive revelation came in July 2017 when the High Court froze Nathif’s personal bank account containing over KSh 5.2 billion following EACC investigations.
Bank statements obtained by investigators revealed 32 deposits totaling KSh 2.4 billion made between January 2015 and May 2016, with six major transfers directly from Garissa County Government accounts totaling KSh 2.3 billion.
The largest single deposit was KSh 622 million in May 2016, while other significant transfers included KSh 525 million in July 2015 and KSh 510 million in November 2015.
In 2017, Nathif presented himself to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) after the Director of Public Prosecutions approved charges against him and seven others for irregular ambulance service leasing. Nathif dismissed the charges as a “political witch hunt,” arguing that similar arrangements were used by eight other counties. The case’s outcome remains unclear.
Current EACC Investigations
The January 2025 EACC annual status report confirms that Garissa County remains under active investigation for multiple corruption cases.
The county faces probe over procurement irregularities in the single sourcing of ambulance services from Emergency Plus Medical Services during the 2022/2023 financial year. Additionally, EACC is investigating the misappropriation of KSh 128 million awarded to Aram Investment Limited for county headquarters extension during the same period.
These current investigations compound the county’s corruption woes, demonstrating a pattern of financial misconduct spanning over a decade under Nathif’s leadership. Key findings included KSh 1.475 billion spent on asset acquisitions, including KSh 32.26 million on office furniture lacking proper documentation; KSh 154.72 million in unaccounted transfers to entities like Garissa County Referral Hospital; KSh 570.17 million in unexplained pending accounts payable; KSh 37.8 million in unsupported locum payments to 114 medical staff; and KSh 26 million worth of pharmaceutical supplies lacking documentation.
Systematic Looting of Development Funds
Perhaps most damaging are revelations about the systematic diversion of funds meant for students and community development. According to IFMIS records dated August 28, 2023, only KSh 16 million of a publicly announced KSh 100 million bursary allocation was actually disbursed to students—representing a mere 16% of the promised amount. Governor Jama had publicly announced the bursary program on March 25, 2023, but sources indicate the remaining KSh 84 million was diverted by the governor and his associates, leaving hundreds of students unable to continue their education due to unpaid fees.
Similarly, a KSh 100 million revolving fund allocation saw only KSh 40 million reach its intended beneficiaries, with the remaining KSh 60 million allegedly pocketed by Jama’s inner circle. These diversions directly impacted the county’s most vulnerable populations, undermining both educational opportunities and economic empowerment initiatives.
Garissa Women Representative Amina Siyat Udgoon has accused Nathif of personal enrichment through corrupt practices, alleging that County Secretary Mohamud Hassan placed family members in key financial positions to manage illegally acquired funds.
In May 2024, Nathif faced Senate Committee questioning for operating without substantive accounting officers for over two years, highlighting systemic governance failures.
Flight to London Amid Mounting Pressure
The corruption allegations reached a crescendo in May 2024 when Governor Nathif fled to London as pressure mounted over the financial misconduct probe. Flight records show he was scheduled to return to Nairobi on May 31, 2024, but his absence failed to quell growing public protests about his administration’s handling of county funds.
Contrary to expectations within Nathif’s camp that his temporary departure would allow the controversy to subside, residents and civil society groups intensified their demands for accountability during his absence.
Promises Versus Reality
Despite his banking background spanning over 30 years, Nathif’s ambitious development promises have largely gone unfulfilled. His 11-point plan included improving food security, livestock development, education, infrastructure, water, sanitation, healthcare, and tourism.
Upon re-election in 2022, Nathif promised to restore services and address water shortages and healthcare deficiencies, claiming deals with Kenya Power and the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority. However, residents argue these promises remain unmet.
The discovery of over 3,000 ghost workers costing KSh 414 million monthly in 2022 further highlighted mismanagement under Nathif’s administration. The audit revealed unqualified staff in senior positions and irregular promotions.
Allegations of Compromised Anti-Corruption Efforts
Adding to the complexity of the situation are allegations that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been compromised in its investigation of Garissa County. Sources claim that EACC officers have received bribes from Governor Jama, potentially explaining the commission’s apparent reluctance to take decisive action despite mounting evidence of financial impropriety.
These allegations, if proven true, would represent a serious compromise of Kenya’s anti-corruption infrastructure and explain why previous cases against Nathif have failed to result in convictions despite substantial evidence of wrongdoing.
Broader Corruption Context
Garissa’s challenges reflect wider corruption issues in Kenya’s devolved units. The 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Kenya 121st out of 180 countries with a score of 32 out of 100, indicating a highly corrupt public sector. Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu’s reports consistently flag counties for procurement violations and unaccounted funds, with Garissa frequently cited.
Conclusion
The KSh 40 million cultural event expenditure represents more than financial mismanagement—it symbolizes deeper governance failures under Governor Nathif’s administration. With mounting corruption allegations spanning irregular contracts, unsupported payments, systematic fund diversions, and allegations of compromising anti-corruption agencies, the county leadership faces unprecedented scrutiny.
The pattern of financial misconduct—from the KSh 84 million bursary theft that denied education to hundreds of students to the KSh 60 million revolving fund diversion that blocked economic opportunities—reveals an administration that has prioritized personal enrichment over public service. Governor Nathif’s flight to London amid mounting pressure only reinforced perceptions of guilt and accountability avoidance.
As residents demand accountability and basic services, Garissa’s administration must address systemic issues to restore public trust and fulfill devolution’s promise. The upcoming County Assembly investigation will test whether the county can break its cycle of mismanagement and prioritize residents’ needs.
Sources: Frontier Online, The Standard, Tuko.co.ke, Kenya Insights, Kenya News Agency
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