The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested two more Nyamira County Assembly officials over irregularities linked to a KES 367 million tender for the construction of an office block for the Assembly, bringing the number of officials arrested in the case to five.
The latest suspects are David Nyirango Ombego, the Deputy Clerk/Director of Legislative, Legal Procedure and Committee Services, and Joyce Onyiego, the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation.
The two were arrested within Kisii County during a coordinated operation conducted by EACC investigators. Their arrest is part of investigations into the award and implementation of the tender, where the commission says irregularities resulted in the loss of KES 30,187,396 in public funds.
EACC has been investigating how the tender was handled and whether officials followed the required procedures in the management of public resources.
The commission said the two officials are expected to face charges relating to Abuse of Office, Willful Failure to Comply with the Law Relating to the Management of Public Funds, and Negligence of Official Duty.
Following their arrest, Ombego and Onyiego were taken to the EACC’s South Nyanza Regional Office in Kisii, where they are being processed as investigations and preparations for their arraignment continue.
The latest arrests come after three other Nyamira County Assembly officials were previously arrested and charged in connection with the same matter.
They include Duke Simeon Onyari, the Clerk of the Nyamira County Assembly, Eng. Josephat Matini Oruru, the Chief Officer for Roads and Public Works, and Simon Ondari Ogecha, the Infrastructure Officer.
Their arrests formed part of the commission’s efforts to establish how the KES 367 million project was handled and whether public funds were managed in line with the law.
The office block project has come under scrutiny because of the amount involved and the financial loss identified by investigators.
EACC is expected to present the two latest suspects before court after completing the necessary processing at its Kisii office. The charges they are expected to face will allow the court to determine the next stage of the case and consider the evidence presented by the prosecution.
The investigation also places renewed attention on procurement and public financial management within county institutions, where officials are required to follow established laws and procedures when awarding and implementing major projects.
The commission has continued to pursue officials suspected of violating public finance and procurement rules as part of efforts to protect public resources.
The Nyamira case will now proceed with the latest suspects joining the three officials who have already been charged over the tender.
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