A cloud of controversy is gathering over Nairobi-based lawyer George Kithi, whose bid to unseat Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro in 2027 is being overshadowed by renewed revelations of past corruption and fraud allegations.
Once seen as a polished technocrat with a clean legal background, Kithi now faces a growing credibility crisis that could fracture his political support base in a county already weary of scandal-plagued leaders.
Old Ghosts Resurface
Reports indicate that Kithi, through his firm Kithi & Company Advocates, allegedly demanded KSh2 million from a client in a property purchase deal that never materialized. The client, acting in trust, transferred the funds — only to be met with silence when the transaction stalled. Efforts to reach Mary Chege, Kithi’s law partner and wife, who works with Seven Seas Technologies, reportedly hit a dead end.
This seemingly isolated incident has since reignited public debate about Kithi’s integrity, particularly as he positions himself as a reformist alternative to Mung’aro.
The KSh449 Million Question
Kithi’s name also appears in a far graver case — a KSh449 million land fraud scandal investigated by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
He, alongside Senior State Counsel Edna Khaemba, Gladys Mboya, and real estate valuer Lloyd Masika, was linked to allegations of forging land documents to obtain five bank loans from CBA Bank.
The DCI reportedly recommended their prosecution, but the case has since gone quiet — fueling speculation that powerful connections may have stalled justice.
City Hall Connections and Legal Fees Fiasco
Kithi’s firm also featured in a list of law firms flagged in a probe into inflated legal fees at the Nairobi City County Government. Investigators alleged that a network of firms had been used to drain county coffers through exaggerated legal claims, some running into tens of millions.
Though no direct charges were filed against Kithi, the association alone has dealt a reputational blow, with critics questioning how a lawyer facing such scrutiny can promise to clean up Kilifi’s governance.
Kilifi Politics and the Integrity Test
Kithi’s campaign strategists had hoped to ride on his legal background and cosmopolitan image to project him as a fresh face in Kilifi’s 2027 gubernatorial race. However, the re-emergence of corruption allegations has shifted the narrative — portraying him instead as a lawyer entangled in the same moral rot he claims to oppose.
Political analysts say the timing couldn’t be worse. With Governor Gideon Mung’aro expected to defend his seat on a performance-based record, and rivals like Aisha Jumwa and Owen Baya also eying the position, Kithi’s damaged credibility could push him to the periphery.
“Kilifi voters are more politically conscious than ever,” noted one analyst. “Any perception of corruption, even historical, could instantly destroy a candidate’s appeal — especially among youth and professionals who crave clean leadership.”
A Campaign on Shaky Ground
As the 2027 race shapes up, insiders say Kithi’s team is struggling to contain the narrative, fearing that his legal past might become his political undoing.
Unless he convincingly addresses the lingering questions around his financial and professional conduct, George Kithi’s ambition to replace Gideon Mung’aro may collapse under the weight of his own history.
