Why Charles Kerich and Asha Abdi are in Cold war over Looting in Nairobi County

Divisions and disagreements are fast emerging at City as the county keeps recording unprecedented corruption levels presided by Governor Johnson Sakaja.

County Executive for Finance Charles Kerich and finance Chief officer Asha Abdi who have collaborated in many irregular tender deals are now in a rare cold war with Kerich strategically trying to pass the mess to Asha Abdi.

For starters, Asha has more immense and well oiled cartel machinery within the county and the national government while Kerich still maintains his low profile despite engaging in multi-million cartel deals.

An internal memo in our possession indicates how Kerich uses the gaps in the PFM regulations to evade accountability and instead pass the ball to the next available victim.

In an internal memo referencing management responses to the Auditor General questions, Kerich seems to be passing the ball to Asha and chief officer revenue administration.

The memo dated 8th December, 2023 is about the financial malpractices for the 2022/23 financial year with most involving events that happened when the current administration took over in August 2022.

Kerich in the memo highlighted a number gaps in statement answers that had earlier been given to the auditor general

The auditor had mentioned that one accounting officer, Tony Michael Kimani had a letter dated 31st February 2023 and the letter for Ms Maryan Dubow Dahir was  not provided for audit review with the two also linked to massive looting and running of proxy companies.

Statements on County Executive Bankers did not include Chase Bank and HFC as reflected in the financial statement raising more eyebrows.

The auditor also outlined cases of possible impunity where the financial statement reflected cabinet membership, however, the County Assembly approval was not provided for audit review. Further, the Acting County Attorney letter of acting appointment was provided.

The county is said to have give. Wrong statements of receipts to cover up for fraud.

County has been struggling to meet its revenue targets with key officers among them Finance Executive Charles Kerich and his  Chief Officer Asha Abdi on the spot.

The escalating graft situation got worse when it was established that some senior officers were chased away by the bank over an unexplained amount of money they wanted to deposit against banking regulations.

The officers failed to prove the source of their money and their efforts to have governor Sakaja who was part of the deal  to intervene failed.

Detectives are also pursuing similar cases where huge amounts of money are being  wired direct to county officials from suspected corruption dealings.

It also emerged that a contractor by the name  Mohammed Ibrahim Siyad who owns rogue and unqualified companies like Buko investments is at the centre of the deal that saw the bank turn away the senior county officers.

Another contractor by the name Hillary Joseph Mutisya who was recently paid millions money on garbage,  others include Milbo Lakes Enterprises owned by Millicent Ndinda Ngumbi are also reaping big from dubious payments at City Hall.

The MCAs who have all the details want the EACC and DPP to quickly act on the matter.

The development comes at a time when the Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Mohamed Amin has publicly questioned how nine other companies were paid millions without proper procedure.

The DCI through the then head of investigations Bureau at the DCI headquarters David Birech, wrote to Sakaja demanding a list of tender documents, issued to nine companies suspected to have been used to siphon millions from City Hall.

The nine companies are Brigit West Limited, Future Link Limited, AR Pharmaceuticals Limited, Larsen Investment Company, Burasha General Suppliers Limited, Tweem Limited, Cloud Mobile Technologies Limited, Istanbul Investment Limited and Ramecon Engineering Limited.

The DCI is still investigating requisitions by the user department,award contracts, delivery and inspection reports and all local purchase orders.

The escalating malpractices also include MCAs who are in the mix and working secretly with Kerich while some are siding with Asha.

Among them is budget committee chairman Wilfred Odalo who collude with some county staff and other suppliers on matters hot-air dealings.

The staff include, Kevin Musamia, he was employed as a clerical officer after working for long as an  attachee under roads and public works.

Kevin, who is known to be an extravagant spender on women’s life luxuries indirectly owns a company by the name Felista Queen Akosa that is managed by his mother.

Ambrose Musau, Vivian Mavua, Beth Muthoni, Denis Muia, Brian Oyando, one who does work plans for the county, Richard Mogoko the head of procurement who has gained massive from corruption dealings, his main clients are suppliers and contractors from the Somali community and a few Kikuyus, he is currently building state-of-the-art-house.

Others are Stephen Mafura, easy panty remover Mary Maina Wangui girlfriend to former acting county secretary Jairus Musumba, Peter Gitau from procurement, Martha Wambugu among others.

Detectives are also pursuing similar cases where huge amounts of money are being  wired direct to county officials from suspected corruption dealings.

It also emerged that a contractor by the name Mohammed Ibrahim Siyad who owns rogue and unqualified companies like Buko investments is at the centre of the deal that saw the bank turn away the senior county officers.

Another contractor Hawa Ibrahim with her accomplice Maria, Milbo Lakes Enterprises owned by Millicent Ndinda Ngumbi are also reaping big from dubious payments at City Hall.

The MCAs who have all the details want the EACC and DPP to quickly act on the matter.

The development comes at a time when the Director of Criminal Investigations(DCI)Mohamed Amin has publicly questioned how nine other companies were paid millions without proper procedure.

The massive corruption at City Hall has become so pronounced and some MCAs are questioning the role of independent institutions that have been investigating officers especially at the Finance and Procurement Departments.

The county executive is also under scrutiny for misuse of bank overdrafts that do not meet merit from the county assembly and as required by the PFM Act.

Those on the spot over this are Charles kerich, some county assembly leadership among others.

The county assembly is now increasingly getting convinced that governor Sakaja has failed to demonstrate capacity to run the city.

They are also accusing him of misusing funds aimed at taming environmental pollution,and the influx of cartels at City Hall.