By Abdimalik Hajir - Reporter
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Kenya, June 09, 2026 - The Office of the Ombudsman has referred Tana River County’s Acting County Secretary to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for possible prosecution after he allegedly failed to honour summonses and provide information on the management of the Inuka Fund.
The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) said the official’s conduct amounted to a violation of the Access to Information Act and ordered the county government to disclose key records relating to the fund within 21 days.
“The requested records promote transparency and accountability in the use of public resources and fall within the constitutional right of access to information under Article 35,” the Commission said in its ruling.
The case was initiated by the Tana River Civil Society Organizations Network, which sought details on Inuka Fund disbursements, beneficiaries, loan repayments and the effectiveness of the fund’s management structures for the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 financial years.
According to the Commission, the county government only provided partial information despite repeated requests, prompting the civil society group to seek a review before the Ombudsman.
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The Commission further found that the Acting County Secretary failed to respond to an Access to Information Notice and did not attend a hearing convened on February 2, 2026, forcing the matter to be determined in his absence.
As part of its orders, the Ombudsman directed the county government to release information on loan repayments, the operational status of the Inuka Fund, details of beneficiaries and amounts disbursed, as well as minutes approving the loans. Personal details such as ID numbers, KRA PINs and phone numbers are to be redacted before disclosure.
The Commission also warned that continued failure to comply with its orders could attract further sanctions under the Access to Information Act.
The case file will now be forwarded to the DPP for consideration and possible prosecution.