EXPOSED: Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti Accused of Funneling Sh350m to Own Companies Through Proxy Networks

County insiders claim Wavinya Ndeti manipulated procurement system to enrich herself while legitimate contractors languish unpaid

Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti is facing explosive corruption allegations after contractors and county insiders claimed she orchestrated the payment of over Sh350 million to companies secretly linked to her through proxies and business associates.

The payments, allegedly made in December last year, relate to road projects that contractors say were either shoddily executed or remain incomplete, raising serious questions about value for money and abuse of office.

The scandal has erupted at a time when Machakos County’s pending bills have ballooned to a staggering Sh6.8 billion in just three years, pushing dozens of local contractors who completed legitimate work to the brink of financial collapse as they wait months for payment.

Multiple contractors interviewed described a pattern in which the governor allegedly seized direct control over procurement and finance operations, dictating tender awards, influencing evaluation processes, and personally approving payments in a centralized system that effectively eliminated checks and balances.

“She controls everything. The tenders, the evaluations, the payments. If you are not connected to her inner circle, you can do perfect work and still wait forever for your money,” one contractor told The Star on condition of anonymity, fearing professional retaliation.

According to sources within the county administration, firms associated with Governor Ndeti and her son Charles Odiwale received preferential treatment in the award and settlement of lucrative road contracts. Insiders allege these firms operated through proxy ownership structures and allied business partners to conceal direct links to the county leadership.

Several road projects tied to the disputed Sh350 million disbursements have drawn withering criticism from residents who report visible construction defects including uneven surfaces, early pothole formation, and incomplete sections despite the massive public expenditure.

“We see these roads falling apart within months yet we are told millions were spent. Where did the money go?” asked Jane Muthoni, a Machakos town resident.

Meanwhile, independent contractors who say they delivered quality projects on time and to specification report being systematically sidelined. Many allege they were forced to surrender 10 percent of contract values upfront before receiving tenders, a demand they describe as coercive and illegal.

“You pay the kickback, you mobilize resources from your own pocket, you complete the work perfectly, then you are met with total silence when you seek payment. They don’t answer calls, they don’t respond to letters. It is deliberate frustration,” said a contractor who has been chasing payment for eight months.

The financial strain has pushed several contractors into loan defaults. Many borrowed heavily from commercial banks to finance county projects, expecting timely settlement once they delivered. Instead, they now face bank auctions and mounting interest penalties.

Finance professionals within the county warn that the alleged micromanagement from the governor’s office has destabilized normal financial operations and created fertile ground for conflicts of interest.

“When procurement decisions are concentrated in one office without proper oversight, the system becomes vulnerable to manipulation. That appears to be exactly what has happened in Machakos,” said a finance officer who requested anonymity.

Data from internal finance discussions indicate that Machakos County’s pending bills have surged to over Sh6.8 billion in three years under Governor Ndeti, up from Sh2.1 billion inherited from her predecessor Alfred Mutua’s two terms. The Controller of Budget has warned that such levels threaten service delivery and long-term fiscal stability.

The procurement controversy comes against the backdrop of unverified reports that Governor Ndeti was detained in the United Kingdom in September 2024 alongside her son over allegations of attempting to smuggle large sums of money from Kenya into Europe. No public charges followed, but the incident intensified scrutiny of her financial dealings.

County insiders describe an atmosphere of fear in procurement and finance departments, with officers hesitating to question directives for fear of professional consequences. This environment, they say, has undermined transparency and weakened institutional safeguards designed to protect public funds.

When contacted, Chief Finance Officer Julius Kasanga did not answer calls or respond to text messages seeking comment on the payment allegations and the mounting pending bills crisis.

In a strongly worded response to the allegations, Governor Ndeti has categorically denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the claims as politically motivated attacks designed to tarnish her image and distract from her development record.

“These are fabricated narratives sponsored by my political opponents. We have delivered nearly 1,000 projects since August 2022 and achieved record-breaking own-source revenue collection of Sh1.7 billion in the 2023-2024 financial year. This is effective leadership, not corruption,” she said.

However, critics argue that revenue growth does not excuse alleged procurement violations or conflicts of interest. They point out that if investigations confirm public funds were channeled to companies secretly owned by the governor through proxy networks, it would represent a severe breach of public trust and procurement law.

Contractors are now demanding an independent forensic audit of all road contracts awarded under the Ndeti administration, full disclosure of beneficial ownership for every company that received county payments, and technical assessments of completed projects to determine whether public funds were properly used.

Financial analysts have also called for a comprehensive review of the county’s pending bills to establish whether payment delays result from mismanagement, misallocation of resources, or deliberate withholding to favor politically connected firms.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has previously indicated it is building a case against the governor and her son over alleged massive graft linked to inflated contracts, single-sourced tenders, and misuse of public funds, though no arrests have been made.

As the scandal deepens, the people of Machakos are demanding transparent answers. The controversy has shifted from whispered complaints to a full-blown governance crisis that threatens to define Governor Ndeti’s legacy and may yet result in criminal prosecution if investigators substantiate the explosive allegations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​