EACC Raids Laikipia Speaker’s Home Over Forged Academic Papers
The probe is to look into alleged irregular procurement practices, conflict of interest, embezzlement of public assets, and unusual accumulation of wealth.
EACC Chairperson David Oginde described the levels of corruption among county governments. Photo/ Courtesy
By Gideon Ngenoh
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives on Tuesday raided the residence and offices of Laikipia County Assembly Speaker Lantano Nabaala on claims that he had copied his academic papers.
The early morning operation began at the Speaker’s high-end residence in Nairobi’s Muthaiga estate. After combing through the house, the officers proceeded to the Laikipia County Assembly headquarters in Nanyuki, where they searched various offices. They thoroughly examined files and records, looking for evidence to support the allegations.
According to EACC Central Region director Japheth Baithalu, the prime target of the raids was to seize documents and verify reports that Speaker Nabaala may have fabricated his qualifications. Baithalu confirmed that Nabaala has already been questioned regarding the matter, and the investigation is in a mature stage.
The Speaker has been under investigation for over one year. The case reportedly began after a group of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) reported to the Commission formally that Nabaala could have acquired his employment with fake academic qualifications. Suspicions prompted the EACC to step in and undertake an extensive investigation.
The development comes a day after EACC reported that at least nine county governors are being investigated for alleged corruption claims. EACC Chairperson David Oginde described the levels of corruption among county governments as “alarming” and said the size of the problem is bigger than top leadership.
“Unfortunately, we are trailing quite a number of governors at the moment — nine governors — who are being investigated at different levels of their cases. That is a very high proportion,” Oginde explained.
“And it is not just governors; it goes right down to the other employees in the counties, senior and junior.”
Last week, the Commission conducted another major operation against senior Busia County officials. On Wednesday, EACC officers raided the homes and offices of six senior county officials over an inquiry into a Ksh1.4 billion tender scandal.
The probe is to look into alleged irregular procurement practices, conflict of interest, embezzlement of public assets, and unusual accumulation of wealth.
The investigators believe that during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years, tenders amounting to Ksh1.4 billion were irregularly issued to 26 proxy companies linked to officials under investigation.
The raids indicate the Commission’s intensified fight against corruption in devolved entities, with investigators assuring no one – regardless of where they are assigned – will be spared if convicted of conducting illegal transactions
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