Former Bunge la Wananchi president Henry Shitanda on Wednesday July 16, 2025 testified before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, revealing how he blew the whistle on a Ksh20 million graft scandal involving former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and a 2019 revenue collection tender.
In his testimony before Principal Magistrate Charles Ondieki, Shitanda recounted how his grassroots movement received alarming reports from insiders at City Hall about irregularities in a revenue collection contract allegedly awarded to Webtribe Ltd (trading as JamboPay).
“As Bunge la Wananchi, we are a social grassroots movement that champions human rights, fights corruption, and promotes civic education,” Shitanda told the court.
“We have members embedded in various private and public institutions. In this particular matter, we received a complaint from members working within Nairobi County.”
Shitanda said the whistle was blown over a questionable contract between City Hall and JamboPay, owned by businessman Danson Muchemi, for revenue collection services.
“When the matter was brought to Bunge la Wananchi, we discussed it and the members gave me authority to write to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). I did so on December 14, 2018, and copied the letter to the DCI, EACC, and Governor Mike Sonko himself.”
According to Shitanda, the letter was acknowledged the same day, prompting a swift response from investigative agencies.
“I received a call from DCI officer Ole Sina, and I later recorded my statement with him and other officers. Shortly after, on December 17, 2018, I received a reply from Governor Sonko indicating they had received the letter and would allow investigative agencies to carry out their work.”
Shitanda told the court he also received formal communication from the DPP confirming that investigations had been launched.
“We recorded statements with the relevant offices, and it’s only now that I’ve been called again to give my side of the story in court,” he said.
The Ksh20 million corruption case revolves around the procurement of digital revenue collection services at Nairobi City Hall, with accusations of misappropriation, lack of transparency, and abuse of office.
