This archive report was first published on 25 September 2019.
Published on September 25, 2019, the EACC investigation targets officials involved in the Imarisha Barabara project, which aimed to improve roads in 30 wards across the county.
The project, established under the 2017/2018 financial year, was meant to improve roads in 30 wards across the county and was dubbed Imarisha Barabara; under rapid response initiative.
According to the EACC South Rift Director Hassan Khalid, the officials summoned are accused of illegality in the rapid response initiative of over Sh100 million that was illegally procured and the work done was shoddy.
Among those being probed are the County Secretary Francis Komen, Director of Procurement Moses Toroitich, Chief Officer of Roads and Infrastructure Michael Kiptoo, and the County Chief Executive Committee member for Roads Elijah Kipkoros.
The allegations revolve around irregularities in the procurement process, substandard work, and outright theft of public funds.
When he took office, Governor Stanley Kiptis introduced the Imerisha Barabara project, which he revealed would cost taxpayers Sh80 million in one financial year to improve the roads network in the vast county.
The governor then warned that the contractors who will be hired need to show their prowess in the field and ensure quality is offered.
However, the auditor general's 2017/2018 budget report indicated that Governor Stanley Kiptis administration failed to explain why it budgeted for over Sh250 million road projects but could not implement a single one.
