EXCLUSIVE: What could be Kisii Governor’s KSh1 billion apartments in Kileleshwa

Questions have emerged on the legitimacy of property owned by Kisii Governor James Ongwae, at least three blocks of apartments in Kileleshwa valued at more than KSh1 billion.



The final-term county boss has been under pressure to account for billions of money stolen from the county coffers, with several scandals dogging his administration.



The scandals touch on false procurement, irregular payments and fraudulent tenders, among other accountability questions.



Also exposed by Kurunzi and other media are scandals on bursaries and county ambulances, allegedly being managed by a nephew of the governor’s.



Ongwae has also faced questions on flouting of employment procedures, his critics arguing staffers are considered on nepotism grounds, with county secretary Patrick Lumumba the main beneficiary and architect of this irregularity.



Lumumba is the owner of Ufanisi Resort that once offered catering services to the county, selling mandazi at KSh1,500.







It has emerged that the governor has constructed at least three apartment blocks in Kileleshwa, sitting on a half-acre parcel of land. The value of land at the leafy estate is estimated to be at least KSh500 million.





The Crest Park Apartments have posted this marketing video on You-Tube. COURTESY/YOUTUBE



The bursary scandal is worth at least KSh405 million over three but could be more while false procurement, as revealed by Kurunzi, stands at more than KSh77 million paid to companies associated with the governor.



Falsified, double and variation payments involve projects such as the Daraja Mbili slaughter house, walkways and drainage as well as a road construction project in South Mugirango.



Other projects are networking and internet connection, among others.