- According to EACC, the suspects forged documents purporting that the services were procured and delivered.
- The Commission established that the money was paid to six companies which did not supply anything to Nyandarua County Government.
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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested five former senior county officials of Nyandarua County over loss of Sh13 million.
Among them is a former County Executive Committee Member (CEC).
They will be arraigned before the Nakuru Anti-Corruption Court on charges relating to fraudulent payment of public funds amounting to Sh13 million for services not rendered.
According to EACC, the suspects forged documents purporting that the services were procured and delivered.
EACC spokesman Eric Ngumbi said investigations revealed that the payments were made to six suppliers in a fraudulent scheme for a purported County Investment Conference which was never held.
"The suspects, who were contemporaneously arrested in Nyandarua, Nairobi and Naivasha are currently held at EACC Nakuru Regional Offices and will later be detained at Nakuru Central Police Station pending arraignment before Nakuru Anti-Corruption Court on February 1, 2024," EACC said.
The investigation commenced following receipt of allegations in 2018 that senior officials of Nyandarua conspired to make illegal and irregular payments for services allegedly offered towards a potted County Investors’ Conference which did not take place.
The Commission established that the money was paid to six companies, which did not supply anything to Nyandarua County Government.
Upon conclusion of the investigation, the resultant file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who concurred with the recommendations of the Commission to charge the eight suspects.
The recommended charges included an attempt to commit an offence of economic crime contrary to section 47 (A) 1 as read with sec 48 (1) of ACECA.
They will also be charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of economic crime contrary to sec 47A (3) as read with sec 48 (1) of ACECA and willful failure to comply with the applicable procedures and guidelines relating to incurring of expenditures contrary to Sec 45 (2) (b) as read with Sec 48 (1) a of ACECA.
Others charges are fraudulent practices in a procurement process contrary to section 66 (1) and making documents without authority contrary to sec 357 (a) of the Penal Code.
The commission further directed three other suspects who have gone into hiding to immediately report to the EACC Nyeri Regional Office or the nearest EACC Office for processing.