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EACC probes 8 Bomet officials over alleged Sh1.2bn theft

EACC said the officials are suspected of obtaining the cash through fraudulent payments.

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by PERPETUA ETYANG

Realtime24 October 2024 - 20:00

In Summary


  • The EACC investigations are aimed at establishing whether the suspects abused their positions of trust and authority.
  • According to the authority, the suspects who were arrested during the exercise have been released after recording statements.

EACC integrity centre office

The Ethics and Anti-Commission Commission has openned investigations into alleged embezzllement of Sh1.2 billion in Bomet county.

The commission has trained its guns on eight county officials in the investigations.

On Thursday, detectives searched their residences and offices.

EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said the officials are susoected of obtaining the cash through fraudulent payments.

Payments were allegedly facilitated through companies owned by the officials, their family members and proxies.

The eight suspects are also accused of alleged abuse of office, conflict of interest, acquisition of unexplained wealth and theft of Sh373 million in the procurement of 12 heavy road construction machines and trucks during the 2022-23 financial year, which cannot be accounted for.

The EACC investigations are aimed at establishing whether the suspects abused their positions of trust and authority to embezzle the public funds through collusion, procurement fraud and payments for non-existent or substandard services.

EACC said the operation has yielded valuable evidentiary material that will support the ongoing investigations.

According to the authority, the suspects who were arrested during the exercise have been released after recording statements at various EACC and other government offices.

EACC was established under Section 3 (1) of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2011.

The commission consists of a chairperson and four other members appointed according to the provisions of the Constitution and Section 4 of the EACC Act.

The commission has a Secretariat, headed by the Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to the Commission.

EACC gathers information on corruption occurring in government and the public sector from a variety of sources.

The sources include members of the public, heads of government departments and agencies, officials working in both the public and private sectors and the media.

The reports can be made at the EACC headquarters (Integrity Center), regional offices and all Huduma Centers countrywide.

Upon completion of the inquiry, the outcome will inform appropriate action including prosecution of any culpable persons and/or recovery of unexplained wealth or proceeds of corruption.

Until then, all suspects under investigation are considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law.

The commission is permitted by law to recover all public funds found to have been embezzled by suspects once such theft is proven by court to have taken place.


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