Massive HIV/AIDS Fraud Uncovered in Kenya

A two-year investigation into the whereabouts of international aid donated to Kenya's National AIDS Control Council (NACC) has indicated that officials misallocated funds totalling KES4.3bn (US$56.17mn). The scale of the missing funds uncovered by the report has surprised some players, which include the UK government's Department for International Development.

Authorities in the African country are currently unable to account for KES3.64bn (US$47.55mn) in British government aid donated since 2001. However, NACC officials claim that the finance was routed through nongovernmental organisations, and deny that government officials were directly involved. Nevertheless, the government admits that the NACC should have exercised a greater oversight role over aid intended for the country's 1.4mn HIV/AIDS sufferers.

The international donor community's patience with corruption related to Kenyan officialdom's management of aid projects has been wearing thin for some time. With the new administration's anti-corruption efforts appearing stalled, there is now little expectation of significant new foreign funding for treatment projects.