EACC to grill officials from three counties on Sh400m graft claims

Several officials from three counties in the South Rift region are expected to appear before the regional Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) today over alleged embezzlement of over Sh400 million in public funds.

EACC South Rift Regional Manager Ignatius Wekesa said the officials from Nakuru, Bomet and Baringo counties will be grilled over various contracts initiated by their counties in which the public may have lost funds.

According to the official, the grilling will begin today and run up to September 13.

Summons to 14 officials of the Nakuru County government were issued on August 23 to answer questions over the Sh27 million Sports Equipment procurement irregularities during the Financial Year 2023/2024.

In the letter from Wekesa to Nakuru County Secretary, the 14 officials linked to the irregularities are expected to appear from today to Friday “for interview and statement recording,” reads the letter in part.

Among the officials expected to record statements are officers from tender committees and companies involved in the alleged fraud.

The commission intends to summon top Nakuru County officials for interrogation this month. Preliminary investigations show that senior Nakuru County officials allegedly hatched a fraudulent scheme which led to the purchase of poor-quality sports equipment at exaggerated costs.

The purchase and tenders were allegedly allocated to companies owned by the officials, family members or proxies.

On August 1, the commission requested for 26 documents to facilitate investigations, including original documents of Approved Budget and Approved Procurement Plans for the Financial Year 2023/2024.

The Commission also requested procurement requisition, approved memo-seeking approval advertisement, advertisement notice, standard tender and original tender submitted by bidders among others.

EACC has also confirmed that it has summoned 13 officials from Bomet County over allegations of theft of public funds and procurement fraud amounting to Sh373 million.

The money was allegedly embezzled in the purchase of heavy road construction equipment and trucks in the county.

In a letter dated August 30, Wekesa summoned Bomet’s Procurement officer, Mechanical Engineer, supply chain management officer, the accountant, among others.

“All the employees are required to come with their original Identity Cards and certified copies of employment letters,” reads the letter.

The officials will be interrogated from September 9 to September 13.

Wekesa, in a letter dated July 30, requested Bomet County Secretary to furnish the commission with 26 documents to facilitate the investigations.

“Kindly furnish the commission with Approved Budget for Financial Year 2022/2023, Approved Procurement Plan, Procurement Requisition and Approved memo-seeking approval Advertisement,” read the letter.

The commission says investigations will target county officials and private entities alleged to have conspired in the fraud.

Other officials expected to appear before EACC are from the Baringo County Assembly. They are required to answer allegations of embezzlement of public funds through illegal payment of allowances.

According to EACC, MCAs irregularly created at least six additional County Assembly Committees and used them as a means to misuse public funds.

The committees include Disaster Management, Catering, Medical Services, Public Health, Lands and Housing and Urban Development.

In a letter seen by The Standard, each of the committees had seven to 10 members, including the chair and the vice chair.