Senator for Nandi Samson Cherargei speaking in Eldoret on February 28th 2026A significant portion of the Sh4 trillion that has been sent to counties since the advent of devolution has been lost to corruption, a senator has said.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said corruption is rampant in counties and that nearly all governors face potential arrest and prosecution.
Speaking to the media in Eldoret on Saturday, Cherargei accused the county chiefs of presiding over stalled projects while amassing unexplained wealth and resisting oversight by the Senate.
“Counties are littered with stalled projects as governors wallow in unexplained riches,” he said.
The senator dismissed the Council of Governors as a “gossip club”, accusing members of failing to address substantive development issues.
He said the Senate will soon publish a “list of shame” naming performing and underperforming governors and could recommend suspension of funding to counties where corruption is established.
Cherargei cited questionable expenditures, including Sh274 million allegedly spent on undelivered semen in Elgeyo Marakwet, Sh3 million reportedly used for a Christmas tree in Bungoma, and Sh55 million claimed for maize seedlings in Mandera.
He said the Senate will forward recommendations to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to bar governors found culpable from contesting future elections.
The senator also cited the case of former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu who is in jail following a corruption conviction, urging current county bosses to learn from his troubles.
Cherargei said the Senate had issued summons to more than 10 governors to appear before its Public Accounts Committee, warning that those who fail to honour the summons risk arrest.
The Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja has already committed to enforcing Senate orders, including arresting governor who ignore summons.
“Devolved funds do not belong to governors. They must account for every cent,” Cherargei said.
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