Scandal Rocks Kariobangi North Race: ODM MCA Aspirant Accused of Embezzling Employer’s Funds to Finance Campaign
:
NAIROBI, KENYA –
The race for the Kariobangi North Ward seat is heating up ahead of the much-anticipated by-election slated for November 27, 2025, following the untimely death of MCA Joel Munuve. But even before the ODM Party nominations scheduled for September 29, controversy is already threatening to overshadow one of the leading aspirants.
Theft Allegations Emerge
Aspirants across the political divide are jostling for attention, but for one ODM hopeful, the spotlight has turned ominous. Credible reports now link the candidate — whose identity is being withheld pending formal charges — to theft and financial misconduct at his place of work, Mwenda’s Cocktail Bar, located at Utalii House in Nairobi’s CBD.
Sources familiar with the matter allege that the aspirant has been embezzling funds from the establishment to bankroll his increasingly costly campaign trail in Kariobangi North. The employer is said to have already launched an internal audit, with potential plans to report the matter to authorities.
Aspirant’s Troubled Past Surfaces
Born and raised in Kisumu Ndogo, Korogocho, the candidate still maintains strong family ties in the area, despite now renting a one-bedroom apartment in Kariobangi North. His two wives reportedly still live in Korogocho, while a third woman—believed to have a criminal record—is currently on the run after staying at his Kariobangi residence for months.
The aspirant is no stranger to politics. According to IEBC records, he has unsuccessfully vied for MCA positions in Korogocho Ward, Dandora Ward 3, and Ward 5 in previous elections — raising questions about his political consistency and intent.
Tainted Campaign Strategies
In a bid to curry favour with voters, the candidate has allegedly been distributing substandard and contaminated maize flour—products previously blacklisted for dangerously high aflatoxin levels. Several community health workers and civil society groups in the area have raised the alarm, warning of the potential health risks.
Additionally, sources within his campaign reveal that the candidate is under mounting financial pressure, having reportedly exhausted personal and informal sources of funding.
Insiders also claim he is on the police radar for unresolved criminal matters, with a number of former associates already serving time behind bars. His notoriety in the Nairobi underworld allegedly earned him a nickname borrowed from a wealthy Nigerian tycoon.
Mounting Pressure as ODM Primaries Loom
With the ODM nominations drawing near, party insiders confirm that pressure is mounting on the candidate to either clear his name or quietly bow out of the race. His allies remain defiant, urging him to press on, citing loyalty and grassroots support. However, growing public scrutiny, a murky personal history, and potential legal consequences may ultimately force his hand.
As ODM gears up for what is expected to be a fiercely contested nomination, party officials are being urged to vet all aspirants thoroughly to avoid embarrassment and legal entanglements during the main race.
Stay with GoodMorningKenyaNews.com for the latest updates on the Kariobangi North by-election and Kenya’s evolving political landscape.
.
