Kisumu City Manager Abala Wanga summoned over forged certificates, taking woman on official Nigeria trip

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned Kisumu County City Manager Abala Wanga over allegations of forgery and fraudulent acquisition of public funds.

EACC on Thursday said it has received the concurrence of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge Wanga with several corruption-related offences.

The commission alleges that Wanga used forged academic certificates to fraudulently secure his appointment as the Kisumu City Manager.

He is also accused of using forged documents to facilitate travel and payment of allowances for a female non-staff member who accompanied him on official duty to Lagos, Nigeria, last year.

The anti-graft agency noted that the said individual was falsely presented as an employee of the County Government of Kisumu, leading to the irregular expenditure of public funds.

“The Commission hereby directs Mr Michael Abala Wanga, the Kisumu County City Manager, to present himself at EACC Headquarters, Integrity Centre, Nairobi, immediately for processing and arraignment,” read the statement by EACC CEO Abdi Mohamud.

“Being the City Manager of Kisumu, he used forged documents to facilitate travel and payment of allowances for a female non-staff member, who accompanied him on official duty to Lagos, Nigeria, from 8th to 12th July 2024, disguised as an employee of the County Government of Kisumu in charge of, at the expense of the County Government.”

The Kisumu city boss is therefore set to face four counts, among them forgery, fraudulent acquisition of public property, uttering false documents and presentation of forged certificates contrary to the law.

In March this year, EACC completed its investigations into allegations surrounding Wanga and forwarded the file to the DPP for further action.

A petition submitted to authorities called for Wanga’s prosecution, citing records indicating that his primary and secondary school certificates were falsified.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) confirmed the documents were not authentic in a letter to the EACC dated January 27, 2022.