MPs Demand Arrest of Former Kaiti NG-CDF Manager Over Suspected Ksh100 Million Embezzlement

By Andrew Mbuva 

The Decentralized Funds Accounts Committee has called for the immediate arrest of former Kaiti Constituency NG-CDF Account Manager, Daniel Maluki, amid ongoing investigations into the alleged embezzlement of Ksh100 million during the 2021/2022 financial year.

Maluki appeared before the Committee on Thursday in a follow-up session to clarify how Ksh18,158,000 was irregularly spent on payment of allowances and another Ksh81,341,700 on questionable imprest disbursements. 

According to the Auditor General’s report, the imprests were paid out of the main NG-CDF account to three officers — the Fund Manager, the Constituency Development Fund Committee Chairperson, and the District Treasury Cashier — receiving Ksh34,844,700, Ksh31,736,000, and Ksh14,761,000 respectively. The transactions account for 66 percent of the total funds allegedly misappropriated.

Lari MP Mburu Kahangara questioned Maluki’s decision to withdraw such large sums in cash. “As a Fund Manager, was it within your mandate to withdraw and pay all these monies in cash? What prompted this questionable move?” he posed.

Maluki, who has since retired and is currently a university lecturer, defended the expenditure, claiming the funds were used for public participation exercises to identify potential beneficiaries of CDF and NHIF programs. This explanation sparked further doubt among lawmakers who questioned how Ksh100 million could be spent on such an activity.

Meru MP Dorothy Muthoni dismissed the justification, saying, “It is very clear that these people colluded to withdraw this money and defraud the public.”

Committee members urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to expedite the probe, terming the matter a blatant case of public fund theft. Muhoroni MP James Koyoo insisted that investigative agencies must “conclusively handle the matter and furnish Parliament with the findings.”

Elgeyo Marakwet Woman Representative Caroline Ng’elechei called for stricter accountability measures for NG-CDF managers who mishandle funds. “Such errant officers should not be walking freely among us. He should be in prison even as investigations continue,” she said.

Maluki further claimed that the funds were spent on conducting 70 public participation meetings across the 14 locations in Kaiti Constituency. However, MPs noted that spending Ksh100 million on such engagements was unrealistic and demanded that Maluki and the other officials involved be held fully accountable.

“We need to hear from the DCI how far these investigations have gone, and whatever other information the manager is withholding,” said Webuye East MP Martin Pepela Wanyonyi.

In his concluding remarks, Committee Chairperson Gideon Mulyungi directed that the panel hold a joint sitting with the three individuals who withdrew the funds, officers from the DCI, members of the NG-CDF Committee, and the District Accountant Cashier to establish the next steps in resolving the matter.