Liore

[journey]

Senior minister in the Mwangi government is accused of nepotism and favouritism towards his relatives
18 February 5642



Allegations of unqualification, nepotism and corruption have shook the nation and the incumbent Mwangi government following the release of an explosive independent report investigating the conduct of the finance minister Mbita Kipkorir. The report, authored by a team of investigative journalists has shown a damning picture of the state of affairs within in the government and finance ministry especially during Kipkorir's tenure, accusing him of systematically favouring his relatives in high-level ministry, and sometimes even the other parts of the government appointments and public sector tenders. Investigation report has described the findings as an "ecosystem of kleptocracy", outlining what became a network of unqualified hires, weird recruiment practices by the Kipkorir and total misuse and laundering of public taxpayer funds.

Among the most serious accusations are the appointment of Kipkorir's brother to a strategic position within the Federal Revenue Authority (MMS), without any prior consultation with the MMS leaders, the government or Prime Minister in that matter. The law allows for a minister to bypass public contest for any high-level positions, but only in a couple instances, most of them revolving around the emergency law. Other accusations involve the wide amount of evidence of the inflated procurement contracts awarded by the ministry, its privatisation agencies and others to companies linked to the extended family of the minister. And nonetheless serious accusation of the intimidation and patronage, according to a group of whistleblowers who have helped the investigation, yet later faced the dismissal personally from the minister Kipkorir.

Kipkorir himself has dismissed the report and the claims of misconduct in the report as "politically motivated", accusing opposition parties and foreign actors of "blatant lies, full of manipulations". And while the Prime Minister Mwangi is yet to answer our and other journalists' questions regarding the report, many opposition figures have called for the immedtiate resignation of Kipkorir and a full length parliamentary inquiry into the actions of the minister, while the non-government and civil society organisations have echoed the sentiment, warning that unless the PM dismiss Kipkorir, the whole government could be at risk of facing the civil protests.



Shirikisho (The Federation) is a major weekly newspaper and online media outlet in Liore, based in Naranpá.