The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested seven current and former senior Nakuru County Government officials and a contractor over an alleged Ksh120 million procurement fraud.
Investigators claim the suspects manipulated county tenders through conflict of interest, fake documents, and money laundering between the 2020/2021 and 2024/2025 financial years. The anti-graft agency says the scheme diverted millions of shillings in public funds through companies linked to the spouse of a serving county employee.
The arrests mark one of the biggest county corruption crackdowns in recent months as the suspects prepare to face charges in court.
EACC Arrests Nakuru County Officials Over Ksh120 Million Tender Scam ¶
According to the EACC, investigations uncovered an elaborate procurement scheme in which a serving county official allegedly used companies owned by her husband to secure lucrative county tenders while still working for the county government.
The commission alleges that the arrangement created a direct conflict of interest, allowing the companies to receive 29 county contracts worth Ksh120,042,417 over several financial years.
Investigators further claim the companies relied on false documents to unlawfully win the tenders.
The EACC also traced payments made under the contracts and found that part of the money allegedly ended up in joint bank accounts held by the county official and her husband.
The commission says investigators also identified financial transactions linking some of the contract proceeds to several senior county officials, raising further concerns about the handling of public resources.
The investigations focused on three companies allegedly owned and controlled by the spouse of a serving county employee.
According to the commission, those companies continued doing business with Nakuru County despite the clear conflict of interest prohibited under public procurement and anti-corruption laws.
Investigators Trace Contract Payments to Senior Officials ¶
The EACC says financial investigations revealed that some of the money paid under the disputed contracts was transferred into accounts connected to senior county officials.
The findings have expanded the scope of the investigation beyond procurement irregularities to include possible money laundering and abuse of office.
After completing the investigations, the commission forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).
The ODPP has since approved the prosecution of nine suspects on multiple corruption-related charges.
Suspects Face Multiple Corruption Charges ¶
The suspects are expected to face charges that include:
Conflict of interest Money laundering Irregular procurement Abuse of public office Fraud-related procurement offences
The EACC has also directed two additional suspects believed to have gone into hiding to surrender at its South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru or the nearest EACC office.
All the suspects are expected to appear before the Nakuru Law Courts on July 31.
Latest Arrests Add to EACC's Crackdown in Nakuru ¶
The latest operation comes only months after the EACC arrested a staff member of the Nakuru Water and Sewerage Company (NAWASCO) over an alleged bribery scheme.
In that case, a leak detection officer allegedly demanded a Ksh15,000 bribe from a resident seeking the replacement of a confiscated water meter.
During the operation, detectives also recovered Ksh118,000, which investigators suspected to be proceeds of corruption.
The new arrests signal the commission's continued focus on dismantling corruption networks within county governments.
If the prosecution succeeds, the Ksh120 million procurement case could become one of Nakuru County's most significant corruption prosecutions in recent years, with investigators seeking to hold both public officials and private contractors accountable for the alleged misuse of public funds.
