EACC Conducts Raids on Nyamira Governor’s Premises Over Alleged KSh 382 Million Graft Scandal
The EACC noted that the recovered materials will assist in establishing the scope of the alleged corruption and all those who were involved.
The transactions, the agency indicates, were conducted without approval and are in violation of management rules of finance. Photo/courtesy
By Ruth Sang
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Wednesday, October 29, carried out joint searches at the homes and offices of Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo and several top county officials. The operation is part of an ongoing inquiry into an alleged corruption case concerning a Sh382 million construction project.
The EACC claims the probe is founded on illegal tendering and award of a contract for the construction of Nyamira County Government headquarters to Spentech Engineering Limited. The contract is also said to have been substantially inflated, with the contractor paid much more than the amount of work executed.
Early investigations by the graft watchdog found that the project had suffered enormous financial losses due to poor management, shady procurement processes, and lack of accountability. Early valuation reports indicated taxpayers’ money was mismanaged and that the project did not meet the expected standards, but instead revealed red flags of deliberate financial mismanagement.
In a report, the EACC exposed that Governor Nyaribo has also been under probe for allegedly approving improper payments of KSh 18 million to himself. The payments, it is indicated, included KSh 5 million labeled as ex gratia benefits and KSh 13 million as payment of house allowance. The transactions, the agency indicates, were conducted without approval and are in violation of management rules of finance.
The collaborative search operation was conducted across three counties — Nyamira, Kisii, and Nairobi — where detectives seized significant documents, financial records, and electronic devices believed to contain important evidence. The EACC noted that the recovered materials will assist in establishing the scope of the alleged corruption and all those who were involved.
The other top county officials named as individuals of interest in the investigation include Lameck Machuki Nyariki, Housing and Physical Planning Director; Peris Mose, Director of Roads as well as a former Head of Procurement; Asberth Maobe, Finance and Accounting Services Chief Officer; and Josphat Oruru, Roads, Transport, and Public Works Chief Officer.
EACC maintained that the raids were intended to prevent evidence tampering and to pave the way for potential arrests and prosecutions. The agency reiterated its commitment to pursuing corruption cases at national and county levels, emphasizing that no public official, regardless of his rank, would be spared accountability.
The Commission reiterated that the operations fall under its overall mandate of recovering stolen public assets and re-establishing public service integrity.
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