The Kwale County Assembly is at the centre of a storm following explosive allegations linking Clerk Fatuma Hassan Mwalupa to a sprawling procurement network accused of siphoning millions of shillings from public coffers.

Whistleblowers, audit reports, and insider accounts now paint a picture of an institution gripped by systemic irregularities, where oversight appears weak and accountability elusive.

Allegations of a Shadow Procurement Network

Multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity claim that Mwalupa wields extraordinary control over procurement processes at the assembly, allegedly operating through proxy companies to inflate contract values and facilitate kickbacks.

According to the claims, funds are fragmented across numerous accounts in what insiders describe as a deliberate attempt to evade detection. While these specific allegations remain unverified independently, they have intensified calls for urgent investigations.

Efforts to reach Mwalupa for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication.

The KSh 624 Million Assembly Building Controversy

At the heart of the scandal is the controversial construction of the Kwale County Assembly headquarters in Matuga.

Originally budgeted at KSh 508 million, the project ballooned to KSh 624 million after contractor changes—an increase of KSh 116 million flagged by the Office of the Auditor-General Kenya.

Auditors further revealed that by 2022, at least KSh 155 million had already been paid out despite minimal progress on the ground before the contractor exited the site.

When the building was eventually inaugurated in 2024, Speaker Seth Mwatela Kamanza praised it as a milestone of devolution—but questions over cost escalation and procurement integrity remain unresolved.

Damning Audit Findings

Reports by the Office of the Auditor-General Kenya outline a pattern of financial and administrative breaches within the assembly:

• Staffing levels exceeding legal limits, with over 280 workers against a cap of 100
• Millions spent on unsupported conference expenses, including KSh 15.9 million with no documentation
• Employees subjected to irregular salary deductions beyond legal thresholds
• Several staff reportedly going unpaid for extended periods
• A dysfunctional vehicle fleet, with only two out of six operational while additional funds were spent on rentals

As the accounting officer, Mwalupa bears institutional responsibility for these lapses.

EACC Investigations and Lingering Questions

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is reported to have questioned Mwalupa over alleged financial misconduct. However, no formal charges or conclusive outcomes have been made public.

This has fueled frustration among civil society groups and residents, who argue that repeated audits and investigations have failed to translate into accountability.

Kwale County has previously ranked among regions with high incidences of bribery, according to national surveys, raising broader concerns about governance within county institutions.

A Wider Web of Alleged Irregularities

The controversy extends beyond the assembly. Separate allegations have linked senior county officials, including Finance Chief Officer Alex Thomas Onduko and CECM Francisca Kilonzo, to procurement dealings involving hundreds of millions of shillings through companies reportedly tied to family members.

While these claims remain under scrutiny and require independent verification, they add to a growing perception of entrenched patronage networks within the county.

A History of Unresolved Scandals

Kwale’s governance challenges are not new. Past anti-corruption crackdowns by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission have led to arrests and court cases involving county officials—but many have dragged on for years without resolution.

A previous clerk, Hamisi Bweni Dzila, was embroiled in a legal battle after resisting questionable payments, highlighting long-standing tensions within the assembly over financial oversight.

Growing Pressure for Accountability

The latest revelations have triggered calls for urgent action:

• Civil society groups are demanding forensic audits and asset tracing
• Pressure is mounting on the EACC to fast-track investigations
• Internal efforts are reportedly underway to push for accountability measures within the assembly

Analysts warn that failure to act decisively could further erode public trust in devolved governance structures.

The unfolding situation in Kwale County raises deeper questions about accountability, procurement integrity, and the effectiveness of oversight institutions in Kenya’s devolved system.

While the allegations against Fatuma Hassan Mwalupa remain unproven, the volume and consistency of audit queries and whistleblower claims have placed the assembly under intense public scrutiny.

As investigations continue, attention now turns to whether authorities will act decisively—or whether, as critics argue, the cycle of scandal without consequence will persist.

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The women and youth of Kwale County are set to benefit from new opportunities after the county entered a collaboration with Equity Bank Kenya, aimed at supporting local enterprises, agriculture, and skills development.

Despite its rich natural resources and vibrant population, Kwale County continues to face high unemployment, limited access to credit, and underutilized agricultural potential.

To address these challenges, Governor Fatuma Mohamed Achani met with Equity Bank Managing Director Moses Nyabanda and Board Director Samuel Mwale to explore ways of supporting residents in turning ideas into sustainable livelihoods.

Governor Achani praised Equity Bank for its longstanding involvement in education through scholarships and bursaries. She noted that the county is now shifting focus to economic empowerment, particularly for women, to complement its earlier investments in education.

“Equity Bank has been our major stakeholder, especially in matters of scholarships and bursaries,” said Governor Achani. “

Now, we’re focusing on empowering women through business. We’ve helped over 300 women groups register companies, but we need a financial partner to help us manage the revolving fund that supports them.”

The governor emphasized that formalizing women’s groups into companies is only the first step. Access to financing, mentorship, and training are critical to ensuring these enterprises grow, create jobs, and contribute to the county’s economy.

Nyabanda reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting Kwale’s communities, noting that Equity Bank has been present in the region since 2007 with a focus on uplifting local residents.

“Women are forming companies, creating jobs, and building confidence. With our support, we can grow these businesses and boost the county’s economy,” he said.

He added that the bank’s programs help informal groups transition into structured, self-sustaining enterprises while linking education with entrepreneurship, ensuring residents can translate knowledge and skills into income-generating activities.

Board Director Mwale highlighted the county’s rich farmland, mineral deposits, and blue economy potential as avenues for creating sustainable livelihoods for residents.

“For too long, we’ve spoken of potential. Now, it’s time to turn that potential into real opportunity. Kwale County is ready, and we are proud to be part of that transformation,” he said.

Governor Achani welcomed the partnership, noting ongoing county investments in irrigation, dam construction, and deep-sea fishing, and inviting Equity Bank to collaborate in scaling up these initiatives.

Both parties agreed to focus on sustainable financing models for women, youth employment programs, and agricultural value-chain development.

The renewed partnership marks a step toward translating Kwale County’s resources and population potential into real opportunities that benefit the people themselves, strengthening livelihoods and local economic growth.

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Fly 748, the Kenya’s leading airline Wednesday February 16, 2022 entered deal with Team Tri Fit (TTF), a dynamic endurance sporting group that brings together amateur and professional athletes who have a desire to compete and nurture the triathlon, with an aim of growing the sport in the country.

Through a press statement sent to newsrooms, the airline announced that the partnership agreement will offer subsidized air-tickets to TTF members and participants who will take part in upcoming triathlon events.

This starts with the TTF Chale Island Triathlon Challenge scheduled to take place in Diani, Kwale County later in May.

“We are delighted to partner with Team Tri Fit for their Chale Island Triathlon Challenge slated for the 29th May 2022 in Diani, Kwale County as we continue to make a significant contribution to development of sports in the country,” said Fly 748 Schedule Services Manager, Alijan Merdin.

TTF, the 65-membership sporting group seeks to develop triathlon and duathlon and increase uptake of its activities amongst Kenyans to 700 participants by 2025.

The group also seeks to “Increase investment in triathlon sports in Kenya through public and private partnerships by 50 percent by 2025.As a result, I call upon   stakeholders to support our efforts in promoting and growing triathlon in Kenya,” said Michael Orwa, Team Manager,TTF.

This partnership is in line with the airlines strategy of revolutionizing air travel in the country to enable more Kenyans take it to the sky through competitive pricing.

The partnership comes barely a month after the airline sponsored the Kenya Police Football Club to the tune of KSh 6 Million.

The partnership was sealed at TTF Offices located at the Court Yard in Lavington.

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Residents of Taru in Kwale County are mourning the death of three children and their mother after fire razed down their house. The are police boss Fred Ombaka said that the fire whose caused was not established was reported to him on Friday at 10 pm by the chief.

He then sent an emergency report team as soon as he received the news. However, they could not save the mother and her children from the house within Taru trading center. The police boss added that the three were inside the house when the fire broke out, “We are investigating the case,” said Ombaka.

Taru chief Raphael Rurumo said the house belongs to one Hussein Mwanyikombo, a teacher at Egu Primary School. Mwanyikombo had gone to watch football at the nearest trading center when the incident occurred. A nyumba kumi representative Muthui Makau revealed that the fire might have started after a PVC caught fire. He said there was no electricity at that time and the family lit a candle. The four bodies were taken to Kinango mortuary.

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