In a shocking betrayal of public trust, senior officials at the National Youth Service (NYS) College in Gilgil are under fire for allegedly siphoning off a staggering KES 2 billion. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) swooped in on May 7, 2025, raiding homes and offices of the accused, unmasking a web of greed that threatens Kenya’s fight against corruption. With the nation watching, this scandal raises a burning question: how long will public funds remain a playground for the powerful?
The EACC’s operation, armed with court orders, targeted a rogues’ gallery of NYS insiders and their proxies, accused of exploiting their positions for personal gain. Leading the list is Nicholas J. Makokha, Deputy Commandant General for Operations and Logistics, alongside David Muthee Mbogo, Head of Supply Chain Management at Gilgil Paramilitary Academy, and Joseph Maina Kagiri, the camp’s accountant. The plot thickens with Mbogo’s family and associates—his spouses Felista Wanjiru Wandugi and Winfred Cherotich Towett, brother Elias Muthee (director of Marvel Hotel), and proxy Naftali Kaberu, whose wife, Florence Muthoni Karanja, is also implicated. This isn’t just a scandal; it’s a family affair of alleged fraud.
The accusations are damning. Between 2019 and 2025, these officials allegedly rigged procurement processes, funneling KES 2 billion to companies they controlled through conflicts of interest and abuse of office. Fake contracts and collusion reportedly greased the wheels of this heist, diverting funds meant for Kenya’s youth into private pockets. The EACC’s raids yielded critical evidence, now fueling an investigation that could lead to prosecutions and asset seizures. As the agency vows, “Tuangamize Ufisadi, Tuijenge Kenya” (Let’s eradicate corruption, let’s build Kenya), the public demands accountability.
This isn’t NYS’s first brush with scandal. In 2018, a KES 8 billion corruption scheme rocked the agency, with fake invoices and ghost suppliers exposing systemic rot. Yet, seven years later, the same institution—tasked with empowering Kenya’s youth—appears to be a repeat offender. Critics argue that weak oversight and a culture of impunity have allowed such brazen theft to persist. The involvement of family members and proxies in this latest saga suggests a sophisticated network, raising alarms about how deeply corruption is embedded in public institutions.
The controversy has sparked outrage. Youth groups, who rely on NYS for skills training, feel betrayed, while taxpayers fume over the misuse of their hard-earned money. Some defend the accused, claiming the EACC’s actions are politically motivated, but the evidence—procurement fraud and fictitious contracts—paints a grim picture. If proven guilty, these officials face not just jail time but the seizure of their ill-gotten wealth.
The EACC’s next steps will be crucial: will this be another headline that fades, or a turning point in Kenya’s anti-corruption war?
