An arrest warrant has been issued for Michael Abala Wanga, the City Manager of Kisumu County, after he failed to appear in court in connection with charges of forgery, uttering false documents and fraudulent acquisition of public funds. 

According to the charge sheet from the Ethics and Anti‑Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Wanga is accused of submitting a forged letter in order to attend a public forum in Lagos, Nigeria. The gathering, the CLEAN Air Forum, was held from July 8 to 12, 2024. 

He is said to have submitted the fake letter—purportedly issued by the University of Lagos—to justify a facilitation payment of KSh 283,402 from the county government. 

Broader Allegations

Beyond the trip claim, Wanga faces accusations involving public property valued at KSh 8,701,091. Prosecutors allege he used false documentation and forged academic credentials to create opportunities for himself. 

According to the EACC, Wanga is also charged with presenting a bogus Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate, claiming a mean grade of C+ to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), when that certificate was allegedly not genuine.

Proceedings and Next Steps

Senior Principal Magistrate Zipporah Gichana issued the warrant after Wanga failed to appear on the scheduled mention date of November 25, 2025. 

In a statement, the ODPP said:

“Today, we secured arrest warrants for Kisumu County official Michael Wanga over forged documents used to fraudulently acquire public funds.” 

Wanga had been summoned by the EACC prior to this, which documented that the DPP had authorised charges of fraud, forgery and uttering false documents against him. 

Context and Implications

This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of county officials and public servants across Kenya. The EACC has increasingly focused on academic credential fraud, travel and allowance misuse, and misappropriation of public funds. 

For Kisumu County, the allegations could damage public trust in the City Manager’s office. Wanga has held a senior administrative role and is expected to uphold integrity in allocating resources and processing official travel.

From Wanga’s perspective, no public statement has yet been released responding to the charges or the warrant. His legal team has not publicly commented as the case proceeds.

Balanced View

It is important to note that under Kenyan law, Wanga is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The allegations remain to be tested in a court of law, and he has not yet faced trial on these charges.

Meanwhile, county officials say they are cooperating with the investigation and will ensure that any findings are addressed. A spokesman for the county indicated that internal audits would follow and that the office is committed to full transparency.

Given the size of the claimed funds and the nature of the false-document allegations, observers say this case may serve as a test case for anti-corruption enforcement at county-level administration in Kenya.