Many in the Gusii region heralded the 2022 election of Paul Simba Arati as a liberation from the old political guard.
From his dramatic public parades of alleged ghost workers at Gusii Stadium to his viral persona as a street fighter for the common man, Arati promised a radical cleanup of the county.
However, as 2026 progresses, a much darker and more concerning picture is emerging.
A growing disconnect exists between the Governor’s high-profile national rhetoric and the stark reality of stalled development and administrative chaos on the ground in Kisii.
Evidence suggests that Governor Arati has effectively handed over the reins of power to his Chinese-born wife, Kwamboka, leaving the county in a state of administrative paralysis where elected officials and career civil servants allegedly report to a non-citizen who holds no constitutional office.
The Rise of a Shadow Administration and Foreign Influence
Perhaps the most explosive allegation currently rocking the Gusii political landscape is the claim that Governor Arati has effectively abdicated his constitutional mandate to his wife, Kwamboka, also known as May Arati.
While the First Lady was initially celebrated for her integration into local culture and her ability to speak Ekegusii, sources within the County Executive now describe a disturbing shift toward an informal, unauthorized power structure.
Allegations suggest that the First Lady has moved from a ceremonial role to becoming the de facto Chief Executive of the county.
Reports from whistleblowers indicate that she is heavily involved in vetting senior appointments and intimidating career civil servants.
This alleged reign of terror has reportedly created a gatekeeper system that prevents local elders and elected leaders from accessing the Governor, leading to a loss of sovereignty for the people of Kisii, who find their affairs being directed by a foreign national.
Financial Hemorrhage and the Legal Fee Scandal
While the administrative leadership is questioned, the financial management of Kisii County has come under intense scrutiny by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Senate.
In early 2026, serious allegations surfaced regarding the misuse of public funds to pay staggering sums to a select group of private lawyers.
Critics claim that the county paid approximately two hundred and seventy-nine million shillings in legal fees within just two years.
The scandal deepens with allegations that these private lawyers also serve as the Governor’s personal business partners, leading to widespread claims that these payments are a front for sophisticated kickbacks.
This massive diversion of public resources has occurred while essential services remain chronically underfunded.
Money meant for hospital medicines and critical road infrastructure is allegedly being siphoned away, leaving the local population to suffer the consequences of a hollowed-out treasury.
The Ghost Worker: Smoke and Mirrors
Governor Arati has consistently used the narrative of reform to shield his administration from criticism, most notably through his highly publicized audit of the county payroll.
While he claimed to have unearthed over one thousand three hundred ghost workers, the process itself has been exposed as a potential political tool.
Opponents and professional bodies like the Institute of Human Resource Management have raised alarms that these audits were actually a coordinated witch hunt.
The prevailing sentiment among critics is that qualified professional officers were purged under the guise of cleaning the payroll, only to be replaced by the Governor’s political loyalists and members of his private security detail.
Furthermore, while Arati has frequently threatened staff over the possession of fake academic papers, he has faced his own set of unverified online allegations regarding the authenticity of his own credentials, creating a perceived hypocrisy that undermines his entire reform agenda.
Budgetary Failure and the Collapse of Local Business
The economic reality in Kisii County under the current administration is characterized by a complete standstill in local commerce.
The Controller of Budget has repeatedly labeled the county as one of the worst-performing in terms of development spending.
In early 2025, the Governor’s supplementary budget was dismissed by the County Assembly as defective and misguided because it failed to meet basic legal thresholds.
Despite reports indicating that the county had hundreds of millions of shillings available in the exchequer, the Governor has steadfastly refused to pay over one billion shillings in pending bills.
By labeling these long-standing debts as fraudulent or the work of cartels, the administration has effectively bankrupted local contractors and small business owners.
This refusal to honor legal obligations has stalled the local economy and left the private sector in ruins, even as the Governor continues to tour the country on the political campaign trail.
Political Theater and the Spokesperson Delusion
Simba Arati has increasingly positioned himself as the national spokesperson for the Gusii and Nyamira communities, particularly within the Orange Democratic Movement.
However, this self-appointed title appears to carry little weight with the voters, who see a leader more interested in national rallies than local governance.
The atmosphere in Kisii has become increasingly volatile, marked by frequent physical altercations and the presence of private security groups that many liken to an informal militia.
The recent torching of his offices at Gusii Stadium in February 2026 was initially presented as an attack by enemies, but it was quickly met with skepticism by a public weary of political stunts.
Many critics alleged the event was staged to regain dwindling public sympathy and to distract from the rising heat of criminal investigations.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, the people of Kisii are left to wonder if they can afford another year of a leadership that prioritizes the microphone over the shovel and foreign influence over local accountability.
