Garissa County has been thrust into the national spotlight after Mohamud Dubow was arrested over an alleged Ksh51.4 million fraudulent payments scheme that investigators say siphoned public funds through fictitious procurement. Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission arrested the sitting MCA alongside two former senior county officials in a coordinated operation on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
Authorities allege that the trio authorized payments for goods and services that were neither procured nor delivered, raising fresh concerns about financial oversight and accountability within devolved governments.
Garissa Mohamud Dubow Korane Arrested as EACC Details Expose Ksh51.4 Million Fraud
Dubow’s arrest has triggered serious political and legal questions within the County Government of Garissa, where Dubow serves as an elected Member of County Assembly. Investigators arrested him together with two former officials who previously held the positions of Director of Accounting Services and Senior Principal Economist, roles that placed them at the center of county financial management.
According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, the three suspects played key roles in facilitating payments totaling Ksh51.4 million to a private store for goods and services that were never supplied to the county government. The commission stated that its investigations established that the county did not receive the items listed in the payment documentation, despite funds being processed and released.
The suspects are scheduled to appear before the Garissa Law Courts on February 23 at 9 am for plea taking, where prosecutors are expected to formally outline the charges against them. The court proceedings will likely determine whether the evidence gathered by investigators meets the threshold for prosecution under Kenya’s anti-corruption laws.
EACC officials assert that the payments were executed through internal county systems, with documentation allegedly used to justify disbursement despite the absence of actual procurement. If proven, the scheme would represent a deliberate manipulation of financial controls designed to protect public funds.
Anatomy of the Alleged Fraudulent Payments Scheme
Investigators believe the alleged scheme relied on exploiting weaknesses within county financial oversight structures, particularly in the verification and approval stages of procurement. Sources familiar with the probe indicate that payment vouchers and supporting documents were processed even though there was no physical inspection, delivery confirmation, or independent validation of goods and services.
In standard public finance procedures, procurement requires clear documentation, competitive tendering where applicable, delivery notes, inspection reports, and confirmation by responsible officers before payment is authorized. The EACC alleges that these safeguards were either bypassed or manipulated, allowing Ksh51.4 million to leave county accounts without tangible value reaching the public.
Such an amount represents a significant financial loss in a county where resources remain stretched across critical sectors such as health, infrastructure, water services, and education. Public finance analysts argue that fraudulent payments of this magnitude not only deprive residents of essential services but also erode public confidence in devolved governance.
The investigation further raises questions about internal audit systems within the county and whether warning signs were ignored or undetected during routine financial reviews. If accountability mechanisms functioned effectively, irregularities of this scale should have triggered immediate red flags.
EACC Intensifies Nationwide Crackdown on County Corruption
Mohamud Dubow’s arrest case emerges against the backdrop of an intensified anti-corruption drive targeting county governments across Kenya. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has recently pursued several high-profile cases involving procurement irregularities and alleged abuse of office.
Just weeks ago, the commission announced the arraignment of six suspects linked to procurement irregularities valued at Ksh348,927,840 in Homa Bay County. The case involved former county assembly officials and private individuals connected to a tender awarded for the construction of the Homa Bay County Assembly Block during the 2019/2020 financial year.
In that matter, authorities alleged that county officials awarded a lucrative contract to a company linked to insiders, raising concerns about conflict of interest and manipulation of public procurement laws. The suspects were arrested and later arraigned before the Kisii Chief Magistrates Court, marking another step in the commission’s expanding enforcement actions.
By arresting sitting MCAs and former senior officials, the commission signals that elected office does not shield individuals from scrutiny. The agency appears determined to demonstrate that accountability must extend to all levels of government, particularly within devolved units that manage billions in taxpayer funds annually.
For Garissa County, the unfolding legal process will test both the strength of the prosecution’s case and the resilience of institutional safeguards designed to prevent financial misconduct. For the broader public, the case reinforces a critical question: whether Kenya’s anti-corruption framework can consistently convert high-profile arrests into sustained convictions and systemic reform.
As Mohamud Dubow prepares to take plea at the Garissa Law Courts, the outcome of this case may shape public perception not only of one MCA, but of the broader fight against corruption in county governments nationwide.
