- EACC detectives staged a twin raid on Oparanya's two homes
- The former Governor was then arrested with one of his wives from their Nairobi home and taken to the Integrity Centre for grilling.
Image: FILE
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has moved to strike at the heart of ODM by going for its Deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya in its latest anti-graft probe.
EACC detectives staged a twin raid on Oparanya's two homes — in Nairobi's Lang'ata estate and in his rural home at Emabole village, Butere.
The former governor was then arrested with one of his wives from their Nairobi home and taken to the Integrity Centre for grilling.
Oparanya is a key ally of Opposition Chief Raila Odinga and has served for years as Raila's second in command in the ODM hierarchy.
He also serves as the Azimio Coalition National Executive Council chairman.
Among the pioneer governors, Oparanya was seen as among the county chiefs who changed the fortunes of their devolved units.
An official at Integrity Centre police station, Nairobi said they the ex-governor and the wife Priscillah were recording statements as part of an ongoing probe.
The probe reportedly relates to financial dealings during his time as governor.
ODM confirmed the arrest saying no information had been given as to why the two have been arrested.
Officials said the commission was investigating how the county spent about Sh1.3 billion between 2013-2022 when he was in office.
"Investigations are currently in preliminary stages. We have searched his properties. Interrogation is ongoing and we cannot tell what time it will end," an EACC insider said.
EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said they had been picked over corruption and economic crimes committed during his tenure as Kakamega governor.
EACC officials spent most of the morning of Wednesday searching one of his residences in Nairobi county.
Another team had raided his Butere rural home. They carted away documents from both residences.
Those in Nairobi left with the ODM boss for grilling. They said they will forward their probe file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions with various recommendations on the issue.
His lawyer Ken Nyaundi said EACC officials arrived at his residence armed with a search warrant.
"They had a search warrant and we could not stop them from doing what they wanted. We are currently at the EACC headquarters and we will communicate further," Nyaundi said.
At his residence on Forest Edge Road, six uniformed police officers and two vehicles belonging to the EACC were on the premises.
The EACC officers searched all vehicles leaving the compound belonging to the family.
Drama ensued when the EACC team left his residence as the officers demanded that he be driven in their official vehicle, which the political leader and his lawyer vehemently opposed.
"We agreed instead to go to the EACC and hear what they have to say," Nyaundi said.
There was drama outside EACC when security denied some of the lawyers and current Members of Parliament entrance.
The security said there were already lawyers therein and hence they would not allow more. One of them Danstan Omari protested the move.
Oparanya is a former chairman of the Council of Governors and currently deputy party leader of the ODM.
The move by the agency sent shockwaves among the political class with some reading politics in the raids.