The EACC on Thursday launched investigation into an alleged Sh400 million theft at the county government of Siaya.
Six detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission's Kisumu regional office interrogated Siaya county secretary Joseph Ogutu for hours on Thursday afternoon.
They were led by EACC regional manager George Oira.
The Star obtained a copy of a letter dated September 29 written by Oria to the county secretary seeking documents and information relevant to the Sh400 million said to have been irregularly paid out.
The commission is asking for the original copies of the budget, approvals for payments and work plans, payment voucher/imprest warrants, copies of cheques drawn to issue the imprest/payment vouchers or account to account transfer slips, payment schedule and receipts used to surrender and cash book excerpts among other documents.
"The EACC is conducting investigation on the alleged corrupt conduct, abuse of office by some officials of the county government of Siaya," the letter read.
Detectives also want to be issued with details of county government bank accounts where the funds were withdrawn, and the details of accounts where funds were deposited.
They also requested the personnel files of 33 officers who received payments between June 1 this year and September 30.
Oira said the probe is undertaken alongside a probe of a stalled Sh4 million and Sh72 million purported to procure ICU equipment, he said.
Siaya Governor James Orengo on Wednesday termed “not news” that the Siaya county government lost Sh400 million during the transition period, saying graft was deeply rooted in the county.
In a press statement Wednesday noon, Orengo acknowledged the Treasury in Siaya is a cesspool of corruption. “… without mincing my words, the Treasury in Siaya is rotten”. Therefore, the latest report on “financial impropriety and administrative malpractices is not news."
The governor sought to assure the public he is in control and a comprehensive forensic audit into the financial and human resource systems of the preceding administration is underway.
He also said his government had stopped any new procurement and payment of any pending bills and allowances until verification and confirmation is done.
“No procurements are being undertaken nor new contracts awarded until we are done with the application of prompt and effective interventions,” his statement read.
Orengo told the county Treasury "not to dare to engage in any financial transaction during this period" without his direct authority.
On September 22, Orengo constituted a seven-member audit committee led by retired Auditor General Edward Ouko. The team will audit the county's financial and human resource systems with a sharp focus on the last two financial years of the former Governor Cornel Rasanga’s administration.
Ouko had been Auditor General of the African Development Bank, specialising in corruption.
“This is the pathway to eradicating endemic and systemic corruption in Siaya,” Orengo said in the statement.
Ouko and team have 60 days to do their work, starting September 22. They are to provide an interim report by October 22.
(Edited by V. Graham)