The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched a sweeping investigation into senior Turkana County officials over an alleged Ksh.600 million procurement fraud scheme. In a coordinated operation carried out on Thursday, the EACC raided the homes and offices of ten individuals, including top government officers, in a probe that has sent shockwaves through the county administration.
At the heart of the investigation is Michael Eregae Ekidor, the County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Finance. Ekidor, along with other officials, is accused of colluding with various entities to embezzle funds meant for public services through fictitious contracts, bribery, and procurement irregularities during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 financial years.
Investigators discovered Ksh.6.5 million in cash hidden in a vehicle belonging to Ekidor during the Thursday raid, intensifying questions surrounding his financial dealings. The EACC suspects that the money is part of proceeds from fraudulent transactions involving the county government.
Others implicated in the scandal include Peter Lomurukai (Chief Officer for Municipalities and Urban Management), Mark Achila Ekiru (Chief Officer for Roads and Transport), Samson Nakito (Director of Procurement), Lillian Alaper Ateyo (Senior Accountant), and Annah Narot Longoli (Cleaning Supervisor).
The probe has also extended to associates and businesspeople believed to be part of the fraudulent network. These include John Tioko Ekal, allegedly related to one of the officials, Abenyo Amathwel Etiir (a Security Warden), Stephen Lowoton (former Assistant Director of Accounting), and traders William Erex Aminit and Nangiro Edung Ichor.
The EACC had earlier secured court orders on March 3, 2025, to freeze Ksh.180 million held in bank accounts linked to Etiir and his affiliated companies. These funds are now under intense scrutiny as investigators piece together the money trail.
All suspects have since recorded statements, and the Commission has assured the public that further legal action will be taken once the inquiry is finalized. The case underscores the ongoing challenge of corruption in county governments and the importance of transparency in public procurement.
