The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has moved in on Bungoma County over the controversial Ksh.3.6M Christmas tree expenditure that shocked senators and taxpayers alike.
In a letter dated February 9, 2022, EACC wrote to the Secretary of Bungoma County demanding crucial documents to support investigations into suspected fraud and theft of public funds.
The probe targets alleged fictitious imprest benchmarking trips to Mbale, Uganda, and a questionable Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the governor’s office that cost millions.
EACC Demands Documents in Ksh.3.6M Christmas Tree Investigation
EACC has formally asked the Bungoma County Secretary to furnish its office with key records to launch a full investigation.
The commission said it is investigating fraud and theft of public funds through fictitious imprest benchmarking trips by members of the County Assembly and senior county officials to Mbale, Uganda. It is also probing the subsequent lighting of a Christmas tree at the governor’s office that allegedly cost Ksh. 6,569,000.
At the center of the storm lies the controversial Ksh.3.6M Christmas Tree ceremony flagged by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee. CPAC Chairperson Moses Kajwang’ raised the red flag during a committee session. He questioned how the county spent Sh3.6 million on a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in September 2019, months before December.
“So you spent Sh3.6 million for a Christmas tree celebration? Using Sh3.6 million for Christmas tree lighting in September? And it remains unaccounted for. If the money was drawn and used it should not have come here,” Kajwang’ said.
His remarks exposed glaring gaps in accountability. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna also challenged the timing of the imprest. Records show the funds were reportedly drawn on September 9, about three months before Christmas. Sifuna argued that the discrepancy pointed to possible cover-ups and misuse of public funds.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei questioned the logic behind celebrating Christmas in September. He sarcastically suggested that Bungoma County might be following a different calendar.
The senators demanded answers. They insisted that public funds must serve citizens, not finance questionable ceremonies.
Senators Tear Into County Officials Over Timing and Accountability
Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli told the committee that the event took place in a ceremonial manner. Participants reportedly wore Christmas hats. The county erected tents at the governor’s office compound.
But the explanations failed to calm the storm. Governor Ken Lusaka sought to distance himself from the audit query. He told the committee that the expenditure occurred in 2019 and urged members not to attribute it to him.
“Chair, just for the record I know media will say it is me. It is in 2019, please Chair protect me,” Lusaka said.
His plea did little to shift focus from the missing accountability. Bungoma County Attorney Edward Waswa disputed the narration presented before the committee. He claimed the expenditure was meant to be facilitation.
Sifuna pushed back. He maintained that the documents tabled before the committee would guide accountability and determine whether the money was properly used. Kajwang’ questioned why the county attorney offered an interpretation different from that of the county secretary, who serves as the custodian of official records.
The contradictions deepened suspicion. CPAC members described the case as part of widespread wastage and theft in county governments. Kajwang’ insisted that the matter required action from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
“This is a matter that is unethical. This is a matter that should go to EACC. It cannot be acceptable,” he said.
EACC Letter to CS- Christmass Tree ProbeStadium Project Defects Add Pressure on Bungoma County
The Ksh.3.6M Christmas tree controversy is not the only issue haunting Bungoma County. The Senate also raised concerns over the Masinde Muliro Stadium project. County officials claimed the stadium was 95 percent complete. But an audit inspection carried out in July 2025 painted a different picture.
Inspectors reportedly found that work had stalled for more than a year. The contractor was absent from the site. The audit team also noted structural defects on the external fence. A section near the VIP entrance bent outward, creating a visible gap between the fence and the ground.
The defects raised serious safety concerns. Senators questioned how the county could claim near completion while glaring issues remained unresolved.
The combination of the stalled stadium project and the Ksh.3.6M Christmas tree expenditure has placed Bungoma County under intense scrutiny. EACC’s letter signals the start of what could become a far-reaching investigation.
If investigators establish that officials siphoned public funds through fictitious trips and inflated ceremonies, those responsible could face serious legal consequences.
Taxpayers in Bungoma now wait for answers. They deserve to know how millions left county accounts and whether value was delivered. EACC holds the mandate to uncover the truth. The documents requested from the county secretary will form the backbone of the investigation.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on the Ksh.3.6M Christmas tree saga—a symbol, critics say, of deeper governance failures that demand accountability and reform.
