The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is advancing plans for additional arrests in Homa Bay County, following reports that the Assets Recovery Agency has identified high-ranking officials' financial assets for potential seizure upon court appearance.
Corruption has severely impacted Homa Bay's development, with billions lost to illicit schemes, leaving the county without basic infrastructure like latrines. The EACC under Twalib Mbarak has disrupted long-standing networks of graft that previously shielded officials from accountability.
Three Homa Bay county officials—Keffa, Chris Agong, and his wife—were arrested in recent operations coordinated by Homa Bay DCI boss Daniel Wachira. The EACC is investigating other county government figures linked to corruption claims, including Kepha Rombe, Mary Agong, and Chris Agong, who allegedly awarded tenders to their own companies.
A 2018 raid on the county assembly led to the arrest of five individuals, including former leaders and finance officers, over the disappearance of Sh26 million. They faced charges of conspiracy, misuse of public funds, and fraudulent payments. Similar allegations emerged in 2014/15 and 2016/17 financial years, with DPP Noordin Haji ordering arrests for fictitious procurement schemes.
EACC raids revealed at least Sh400 million in misused funds, prompting officials to avoid public duties since the 2018 anti-corruption campaign. Residents and leaders have long accused the commission of enabling corruption, with EACC chairman Eliud Wabukala criticized for handling cases as if they were private matters rather than public offenses.
Allegations of organized networks, including Asian-trained cartels, have plagued Homa Bay for years. County secretary Isaiah Ogwe and his associates, such as Daniel Ochieng’ Owuor and Noah Otieno, are accused of diverting Sh30 billion in national development funds. Ogwe's wealth, including a Sh800 million hotel, is tied to alleged embezzlement.
Michael Mubea, former EACC deputy chief executive, was removed after allegedly protecting the cartel. His removal triggered a purge, with DCI summoning officials to account for Sh2.7 billion withdrawn in 2017. A civil society group, Homa Bay Bunge La Wananchi, has since pushed for transparency, as residents appeal to national authorities to address the crisis.
