Kidero Scandal Rocks KNTC: Nepotism and Misuse of Power Alleged at State Corporation

Former Nairobi governor Evans Kidero is again at the center of a brewing scandal, this time as Chair of the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC).

Allegations of nepotism, favoritism, and misuse of public resources have cast a dark shadow over his leadership, raising questions about the integrity of one of Kenya’s key state institutions.

Sources reveal that Kidero’s son, Roney Kidero, and maternal cousin, Evance Ochieng’, have secured prominent positions at KNTC’s Industrial Area headquarters, occupying offices adjacent to the boardroom.

The appointments, which appear to prioritize family ties over merit, have sparked outrage among observers who see a troubling pattern of favoritism reminiscent of Kidero’s past tenures.

“This is not reform. It’s a consolidation of family power within a national institution,” a source familiar with KNTC operations stated. “The same nepotism that plagued Mumias Sugar and Nairobi County is now eroding KNTC.”

Kidero’s track record invites scrutiny. As CEO of Mumias Sugar Company, he oversaw its catastrophic collapse, devastating livelihoods in western Kenya.

Later, as Nairobi’s first Governor, his administration was marred by fiscal indiscipline and systemic corruption, shattering public trust in his technocratic credentials.

Now, at KNTC, critics argue that Kidero is repeating history, transforming a public institution into a hub of personal enrichment.

Appointed by President William Ruto to steer KNTC in the public interest, Kidero’s leadership has instead been marked by allegations of backroom deals and the systematic sidelining of qualified professionals in favor of loyalists and kin.

The presence of “familiar surnames and recycled networks” within KNTC, as one insider put it, has fueled perceptions of state capture.

Adding to the controversy is the silence of KNTC Managing Director Lucy Anangwe.

Her failure to address the alleged irregularities and labor violations has raised questions about her complicity or competence.

“Leadership that ignores rot becomes part of it,” the source remarked.

Kidero’s trajectory—from the ashes of Mumias to the scandals at City Hall, and now the erosion at KNTC—serves as a stark warning of the dangers of entrusting public duty to individuals who blur the line between service and self-interest.