City Manager Who Used County Funds To Pay For Female Non-Staffer's Trip Faces Arrest

Kisumu County City Manager Michael Abala Wanga is now a wanted man after the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court issued an arrest warrant against him for failing to appear in court on Friday, November 14.

Wanga faces multiple charges, including forgery, uttering false documents, and fraudulent acquisition of public funds.

Prosecutors allege he altered a letter dated June 10, 2024, which supposedly invited him to the CLEAN Air Forum in Lagos, Nigeria, scheduled for July 8–12, 2024.

According to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Wanga used the altered document to justify receiving excess payments from the Kisumu County Government.

Kisumu City Manager Michael Abala Wanga speaking during a past forum. /COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF KISUMU

On June 19, 2024, he allegedly presented the forged letter at county offices as an authentic invitation from the University of Lagos, pocketing Ksh283,402.50 in excess facilitation fees.

"Prosecution further told the court that on June 19, 2024, at the Kisumu County offices, the accused allegedly uttered the forged letter, claiming it to be an authentic invitation issued by the University of Lagos. As a result, he is said to have fraudulently received KSh283,402.50 in excess facilitation payments," the statement by ODPP read in part.

The DPP has also leveled additional charges, claiming Wanga fraudulently acquired public property worth KSh8.7 million and allegedly forged a Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, showing a mean grade of C+, to misrepresent his qualifications.

Senior Principal Magistrate Gichana authorized the arrest warrant after Wanga skipped today’s court session. The case is set for mention on November 25, 2025, with prosecution led by Abdisalam Bore.

Kisumu County officials, including Wanga, have yet to comment on the unfolding scandal, which is already raising questions about internal oversight and accountability within the county government.

This comes a day after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officially summoned Wanga to appear at its Integrity Centre in Nairobi over serious corruption allegations, a move that came after the anti-graft body received concurrence from the DPP to prefer charges against him.

According to the Commission, Wanga allegedly used forged academic certificates to fraudulently secure his position as Kisumu City Manager. 

In addition, he is accused of misusing county funds to sponsor a female non-staff member’s official travel to Lagos, Nigeria, in July 2024, presenting her as a county employee.

The Commission had directed Wanga to present himself immediately at the EACC Headquarters for processing and court arraignment, a directive he has since failed to comply with.