The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended seven current and former Nakuru county officials alongside a contractor linked to a procurement fraud case involving over Sh120 million.
Investigations revealed that 29 county contracts, awarded between the 2020/2021 and 2024/2025 financial years, were allegedly irregularly granted. The contracts, valued at approximately Sh120,042,417, are at the center of the probe.
EACC's findings indicate that a county employee had a direct conflict of interest, as companies connected to a close family member—specifically the employee's spouse—secured these contracts while the employee held public office.
- Three companies involved were either solely or jointly owned by the spouse of the county employee.
- These companies were paid over Sh120 million for the awarded contracts.
- False documentation was allegedly used to obtain tenders.
- Some proceeds were funneled into joint bank accounts linked to the employee and spouse.
- Payments from these contracts were also traced to several senior county officials.
The commission has forwarded the investigation file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who authorized the prosecution of nine suspects. Charges include conflict of interest, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, corrupt procurement practices, and non-compliance with procurement laws.
The seven arrested individuals are scheduled for arraignment at Nakuru Law Courts, while two suspects reportedly in hiding have been ordered to report to EACC offices for processing.
EACC emphasized its commitment to protecting public resources and urged public institutions to enforce the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, to prevent such abuses.
