Senior counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has sparked debate over public sector wealth accumulation after reacting to a report by the Daily Nation highlighting the multi-million and billion-shilling assets linked to current and former governors through court cases.
Ahmednasir argued that the accumulation of unexplained wealth among public officials was not limited to governors, but extended across various levels of government.
“Since Jomo's time, the NATIVE's formula to grow fabulously rich was to work for government and steal. That formula hasn't changed today,” Ahmednasir stated.
The lawyer claimed that corruption within government institutions had become deeply entrenched, alleging that some public officials continue to acquire significant wealth while remaining respected members of society.
“In fact, it is now lawful to steal from state coffers and remain respected, admired and wealthy,” he added.
Ahmednasir’s remarks followed the Daily Nation report published on Tuesday, July 28, which examined court cases involving politicians and public officials.
The report showed that legal disputes, including corruption cases, commercial disputes, land battles and recovery suits, had exposed valuable property portfolios linked to several governors.
The report highlighted cases involving former and current county leaders, including Ferdinand Waititu, Mike Sonko, Evans Kidero, Hassan Joho’s family, Okoth Obado, Wycliffe Oparanya and other politicians.
The figures cited in the cases ranged from tens of millions to billions of shillings.
While reacting to the publication, Ahmednasir expanded the conversation beyond county governments, naming other public institutions and offices where he claimed corruption concerns exist.
“Let us not just talk about governors. Judges, CSs, PSs, heads of state corporations... Land officials, Kenha, Kura, Kenya Railways... every government employee is eating,” he said.
The senior counsel further alleged that an employee of Kenya Railways had acquired multiple properties near Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County and paid hundreds of millions of shillings in cash.
He claimed that enforcement agencies had failed to act against some individuals suspected of corruption because of their influence.
However, Ahmednasir did not provide evidence to support the specific allegations, and the claims regarding unnamed individuals could not be independently verified.