The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has revealed that it is investigating corruption-related cases across 11 counties, involving a staggering Ksh. 6.3 billion. This development came to light during the launch of the commission’s annual status report for the financial year 2023/2024, which was held on Tuesday, January 28.
Among the counties under scrutiny are Kajiado, West Pokot, Migori, and Nairobi, with each facing serious allegations of graft, economic crimes, and unethical conduct. Kajiado County is currently under investigation for the irregular awarding of tenders worth Ksh. 2.2 billion to companies linked to county officials. These tenders were granted between the financial years 2013/2014 and 2022/2023.
In West Pokot, four county officials are being probed for awarding Ksh. 1.04 billion worth of tenders to proxy companies over the past decade, up until January 2024. This alleged misuse of public funds has raised concerns about the integrity of the tendering processes in the region.
Vihiga County is also facing allegations, where a Member of County Assembly (MCA) and his spouse, a county government employee, are accused of embezzling Ksh. 200 million between the fiscal years 2020/21 and 2023/24. Such cases highlight the potential for misuse of public resources at both political and administrative levels.
For Migori County, the EACC is investigating procurement irregularities related to the drilling and equipping of solar-powered boreholes in various wards. The value of the alleged malfeasance is Ksh. 140 million. This case underscores concerns about the proper utilization of funds intended for vital infrastructure projects.
Nairobi County, Kenya’s capital, is under investigation for irregular payments of Ksh. 93 million to 13 companies for goods and services that were never delivered during the fiscal years 2021/22 and 2022/23. This marks a worrying trend of fraud in the city’s procurement systems.
The EACC’s annual report also revealed that the commission has active investigations into 534 cases involving corruption, bribery, economic crimes, and unethical behavior. Additionally, the commission has issued 1,546 warrants to search and seize materials linked to corruption, further expanding its investigative efforts.
Despite these challenges, the EACC successfully completed 126 investigation files, which were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review. These efforts, coupled with the commission’s intervention in preventing the loss of Ksh. 2.9 billion in public funds, highlight the ongoing struggle to curb corruption in Kenya’s public sector.
