The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has taken into custody four senior officials from the Taita Taveta government, citing allegations of misappropriating public funds.
The officials are accused of embezzling Sh7 million intended for public use, supposedly related to commemorative events for World War I.
EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed the arrests on Tuesday, stating that three of the suspects were apprehended in Taita Taveta, while the fourth was detained in Eldoret.
They have since been transported to the EACC Lower Coast regional offices in Mombasa for processing and will be held at Mombasa Central police station until their court appearance scheduled for Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
The commission initiated its investigation after receiving a complaint on April 5, 2023, regarding the alleged theft of public funds by senior officials.
The inquiry revealed signs of systemic abuse of power, fraudulent activities, and violations of procurement regulations.
According to the EACC, the expenditures linked to the World War I event were not included in the official budget.
Additionally, the procurement process was characterized by significant fraud and a lack of competitiveness.
It was discovered that the suppliers who were paid for services rendered to the Taita Taveta county government did not actually deliver any products, and the documentation supporting these payments was allegedly fabricated.
Following the investigation, the case file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who agreed with the EACC’s findings and recommended charges for abuse of office, forgery, engaging in a project without proper planning, conspiracy to commit corruption, and using false documents.
The EACC has indicated plans to recover the misappropriated funds from the suspects.
The commission’s intervention is typically reserved for cases involving public funds or interests, while issues solely affecting private interests are usually referred to the police for criminal investigation or civil resolution in court.
