Nyamira County Assembly Clerk Arrested Over Ksh 30 Million Construction Scandal

Nyamira County Assembly Clerk Duke Simeon Onyari has been arrested over allegations of corruption and the loss of Ksh30 million in a disputed construction project for the county assembly office block.

According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the arrest follows investigations into suspected irregularities in the award of a construction tender for the project, which was issued to Jetta Builders Limited.

The anti-graft agency said preliminary findings indicate that the procurement process may have violated established public procurement laws, raising concerns over accountability in the management of county funds.

Investigators believe the tendering process was manipulated, resulting in financial loss to the county government during the implementation of the office block project.

The EACC confirmed that the clerk was taken into custody as part of ongoing investigations aimed at establishing the full extent of the alleged irregularities and identifying all individuals involved in the scheme.

The commission further noted that additional suspects linked to the case are still being pursued as part of a broader probe into the procurement and financial management of the project.

Authorities have not yet disclosed whether any funds have been recovered, but indicated that efforts are ongoing to trace the movement of money and determine how the alleged loss occurred.

The arrest adds to a growing list of corruption-related cases involving county-level procurement processes, which have repeatedly come under scrutiny for weak oversight and alleged abuse of office.

The EACC has reiterated its commitment to pursuing all individuals implicated in public resource mismanagement, stating that accountability in county governments remains a key focus area in its anti-corruption strategy.

The suspect is expected to be processed further as investigations continue, with possible court proceedings anticipated once the probe is completed and sufficient evidence is compiled.