The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has successfully recovered Ksh12,458,990 from Geoffrey Kimonge, a former political advisor to ex-Taita Taveta Governor John Mruttu, following a court ruling that found him guilty of fraudulently acquiring public funds through fictitious imprest claims.
The ruling, delivered by Voi Chief Magistrate Mildred Obura on February 28, 2025, determined that Kimonge unlawfully obtained the funds by requesting imprest for non-existent activities during his tenure as an advisor in the county government. As a result, the court ordered him to repay the Government of Kenya the full amount, plus interest at commercial rates from the date of acquisition until full repayment.
The case dates back to 2020 when the EACC launched investigations following a complaint that Kimonge had irregularly acquired Ksh13.8 million in imprest. The funds were purportedly meant for allowances for Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and county government staff, but investigations revealed that the claims were fictitious.
“It was alleged that the former political advisor fraudulently acquired Ksh13,878,587 in imprest, purportedly for allowances for MCAs and county government staff,” EACC CEO Abdi Mohamoud said in a statement.
Following the findings, the anti-graft agency filed a civil recovery suit in 2022 to reclaim the misappropriated funds. The court’s ruling marks a significant win for the EACC in its ongoing efforts to combat corruption and recover stolen public resources.
The case highlights persistent challenges in public finance management at the county level, where imprest systems have been exploited for fraudulent activities. The EACC continues to urge government officials to uphold transparency and accountability in handling public funds.
This ruling serves as a warning to public officers engaging in corruption that they will be held accountable and compelled to return illicitly acquired funds. The anti-graft agency remains committed to pursuing similar cases to ensure the recovery of misappropriated taxpayer money and the enforcement of financial integrity in county governments across Kenya.
