Eyebrows Raised As Former Youth Fund Chair, Bruce Odhiambo Dies

Doctors attribute the cause of death to heart complications. Former Youth Fund Chairman, Bruce Odhiambo died at the Nairobi Hospital after admission several hours earlier. The late Odhiambo was embroiled in mega scandals after his name was adversely mentioned in the NYS saga. Netizens raised eyebrows over his death because former CEO of the Youth Fund, Catherine Namuye died in 2017 under mysterious circumstances when she collapsed and died in her home.

According to reports, Catherine Namuye lived in fear and regrets from the pressure she faced during her time at the Youth Fund.

Ms. Namuye was first appointed as acting CEO of the fund in February 2013 upon the suspension of the then boss, Juma Mwatata Mwangala, who had been sent packing over allegations of purchasing 1,050 hatching machines at a cost of Sh208 million without the YEDF board’s approval. Mr Mwangala’s predecessor and first-ever CEO of the fund, Umuro Wario was suspended in 2009 and later bundled out of office over claims of irregularities in financial, recruitment and procurement procedures in the institution. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission later absolved Mr. Wario of the claims.

During an appearance before a parliamentary committee, a disturbed Namuye reported that former chairman Bruce Odhiambo had forced her to advance Sh180 million to a certain Quorandum Ltd for an IT contract.

“This project was a board undertaking. I found it rather curious for the board to make me the sole signatory,” she said.

After the scandal, President Uhuru Kenyatta dismissed Mr Odhiambo as Youth Development Fund chairman.

Here is what Twitter had to say;

Bruce Odhiambo has passed on. His eulogy will read like that of a glorious king despite massive corruption he was involved in.

— Rein (@Asamoh_) January 8, 2019

Bruce Odhiambo was undoubtedly a noble, overdriven and enthusiastic man but he was also a sex predator who lured young aspiring girls to his palatial home pretending to be interested in boosting and nurturing young talent

— Lorna Nzilani (@LornaNzilani) January 8, 2019

In less than two years, Catherine Namuye, her lawyer and now Bruce Odhiambo have all passed on. For Namuye and her lawyer, it smelt like an assassination to nip potentially explosive corruption revelations at the Youth Fund. That case is as good as dead.

— Mediatician (@oleshitemi) January 8, 2019