By Andrew Kariuki
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has moved to stop the release of more than Ksh 6.16 billion by the National Youth Service after uncovering what it says is a massive scheme involving payment claims for goods that were never supplied.
In interim orders issued on December 8, 2025, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Court barred NYS from paying Ksh 6,167,797,655 to a group of companies pending the hearing of a civil suit filed by the Commission. The orders were issued by Justice Lucy Njuguna.
According to the EACC, the funds were being claimed by companies linked to Ben Gethi Wangui, Elizabeth Wangeci Ngugi, Susan Nyambura Mburu and their associates.
The firms include Schoolwork Enterprises, Newtool Mart Trading, Ratego Technologies, Realtool Trading, Comptool Trading, Horizon Limited, Liz Link General Suppliers, Link General, Jimchar Enterprises Limited and Tison Limited.
The Commission told the court that investigations began after concerns were raised by the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Affairs, Gender, Senior Citizens and Special Programmes over the legitimacy of multi-billion shilling claims lodged with NYS by several suppliers.
Investigators allege that six of the companies submitted 277 payment claims supported by Local Purchase Orders, invoices and delivery documents for supplies allegedly made to NYS between the 2013/2014 and 2015/2016 financial years. The total value of the claims exceeded Ksh 6.16 billion.
However, the EACC says the procurement records were deliberately fabricated through collusion between the suppliers and senior NYS officials. Key documents, including purchase orders, goods received notes, stock records and inspection forms, were allegedly falsified and approved even though no goods were delivered, inspected or distributed to NYS units.
An audit of the documents revealed widespread irregularities. Some LPOs were not supported by requisitions, others were never committed by accounting officers as required by law, while several lacked official NYS authentication.
Further examination showed that most of the documents were counterfeit.
Out of those reviewed, 248 were not printed by the Government Printer and were never issued to NYS.
Although 29 LPOs were confirmed to have been printed by the Government Printer, they were traced to serial numbers allocated to other government institutions.
The EACC also found inconsistencies in delivery notes, with some failing to indicate quantities supplied and others reflecting deliveries that never occurred.
Store records were allegedly manipulated to give the impression that goods had been received and issued, while tender committee minutes attached to some claims related to unrelated procurement processes.
The Commission maintains that no goods were supplied to NYS under the questioned transactions. It further alleges that the then Director of Finance at NYS, Samuel Mudanyi Wachenje, improperly approved 245 of the disputed purchase orders despite allegedly knowing they were fictitious.
On December 5, 2025, the EACC filed HCACEC Suit No. E049 of 2025 seeking permanent orders to block payment of the disputed sums.
The court’s interim injunction now preserves the funds as the case proceeds to hearing.
