Why EACC is after Wamatangi

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi spent the better part of Tuesday at Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters in Nairobi.

Wamatangi and eight County officials were being grilled in connection with alleged embezzlement of County funds.

Others being investigated are County Secretary Peter Ndegwa, Nancy Njeri Kirumba (CEC Finance), Salome Muthoni Wainaina (CEC Lands), William Kinyanjui Kimani (Chief Officer Finance) and Phyillis Wanjiru Muiruri, Director in charge of Supply Chain.

Also listed were Henry Mburu Waweru (Director, Revenue), Paul Kibe Wangari (Clerical Officer) and Bernard Kabaiku Theuri, Director of M/s Filtronic International.

Even so, Wamatangi's grilling witnessed drama after a group of Wamatangi's supporters arrived outside EACC headquarters calling for his release.

The protesters ferried in motorcycles, claimed the governor's arrest had some hidden political agenda and that some people were not happy with his track record.

But EACC boss Abdi Mohamud said this was part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial and procurement malpractices within the county, touching on conflict of interest and abuse of office. This, the Commission said included awarding of a contract for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, training, commissioning and support services of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

"The contract valued at Sh230 million, was awarded to M/s Filtronic International Limited during the 2022/23 financial year," Mohamud stated.

"Allegations that the county government officials engaged in trading with the county and received payments totalling to Sh1.5 billion through irregular procurement and fictitious supplies," Mohamud added.

The commission said during the operation, they recovered evidentiary materials, including seizure of Sh12 million and USD 13,000 in cash from the residence of Governors Wamatangi.

"Upon conclusion of the investigations, the findings will guide the appropriate course of action which may include prosecution of any individuals found culpable," the commission added in part.

Earlier, chaos erupted outside Wamatangi's residence as residents of Kibiku village in Kabete attempted to block EACC officers, who were accompanied by police, from arresting the governor.

The irate residents accused the authorities of politically targeting their governor and voiced strong support for Wamatangi’s leadership, forcing the police to lob tear gas to disperse the charged crowd.

And after running battles the officers whisked away the governor and escorted to him EACC headquarters in Nairobi.

After more than five hour grilling, Wamatangi stepped out to waiting supporters who escorted him all the way from the EACC headquarters to Uhuru Highway where he addressed them.

The governor explained that the detectives arrived at his residence around 4am in the morning and demanded that he be allowed to go in and carry out a search.

He added the the officers intruded the privacy of his children and wife who had just woken up. “This intimidation is purely political, there is no reason why more than 50 police officers can wake up to my home and another 200 deployed to the offices of county ministers, and they are targeting only those who perform,” said Wamatangi.

He added, “The people who elected us are not the police or the EACC. Recently a senior person in the government called me and swore that by the time I finish my term, they would have soiled my name.”

Even so, Wamatangi did not give details on the millions of shillings the EACC claimed to have recovered from his house.

"Those are stories, if you have a case you take it to court, it will be ruled accordingly. The order that was used to come and harass my family was a fictitious order because they were using the wrong names 'Paul Njoroge," he explained.