This archive report was first published on 2 August 2019.
On August 2, 2019, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched an investigation into Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya's multimillion investments.
Oparanya recently acquired a hotel in Kisumu city centre for Sh400 million, which was set to be auctioned. The hotel is owned by a prominent Kisumu politician.
Additionally, Oparanya has constructed apartments in Kakamega town next to the National Housing Corporation estate and built a residence for his second wife, Carolyne Oparanya, on a 50-acre property in Likuyani.
Investigators suspect that Oparanya has been receiving kickbacks from Asian contractors involved in the Bukhungu Stadium project, which is valued at Sh2.4 billion and being implemented in phases I and II.
Chinese contractors behind the construction of the multibillion Kakamega Referral Hospital are also alleged to be bankrolling Oparanya's private projects.
It is estimated that Oparanya's net worth is around Sh15 billion, including liquid assets and investments.
Another contractor, M-pig, who was blacklisted by the Bungoma County government, has relocated to Kakamega County and is also believed to be funding Oparanya's private projects.
According to sources, most of Oparanya's kickbacks are received through firms operated by his aides and relatives.
One of the scandals under investigation is Oparanya's healthcare project, which was allocated millions of shillings in the county budget to provide healthcare services to residents but has yielded no tangible results.
