The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has announced that the wife of former Murang’a governor Mwangi Wa Iria Jane Waigwe Kimani and her brother Solomon Mutura Kimani have been arrested.
The two are suspects in the Ksh 140 million corruption case in Murang’a County.
In a statement on Wednesday, April 17, EACC noted that the two suspects are currently before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court for plea-taking.
“The two are currently before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court for plea-taking. They are the Directors of Value View Ltd, one of the companies used as a conduit in the fraudulent scheme,” noted EACC.
EACC further stated that it is pursuing the other 6 suspects, including the former Governor, who failed to honor summons to appear before it on Wednesday morning.
“EACC is pursuing the other 6 suspects, including the former Governor, who failed to honor summons to appear before it on Wednesday, 8am,” the statement further reads.
Also Read: How Azimio Politician Escaped Arrest by EACC Detectives
ODPP Charges on Mwangi Wa Iria
On April 14, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) charged eight Murang’a County Government Officials over irregularities in the procurement of tenders worth Ksh140 million.
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The DPP stated that Mwangi wa Iria, was charged alongside seven other individuals including Patrick Kagumu Mukuria, Jane Wanjiru Mbuthia, David Maina Kiama, David Maina Njeri, his wife Jane Waigwe Kimani, and Solomon Mutura Kimani and Peter Muturi Karanja.
This came following investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission which uncovered procurement irregularities and conflict of interest during the award of publicity tenders in Murang’a County.
“This follows an investigation by EACC on procurement irregularities and conflict of interest in the award of publicity tenders by the County Government of Murang’a to M/S Top Image Media Consultancy Ltd in the Financial Year 2014/2015 and 2015/2016,” read part of a statement by the ODPP.
Further the two media consultancy firms awarded the tenders were found to be closely associated with the governor and his wife.
Also Read: 8 Government Officials Face Jail Term Over Ksh 140M Tenders
Evading Arrest
However, Mwangi wa Iria who is the main suspect in the graft case has dismissed the allegations terming them as a political witch-hunt from the government.
On April 15, the former governor evaded arrest after failing to disembark from a chopper during a tour of the Western region by Azimio Coalition members.
Consequently, he couldn’t join his fellow leaders at the next leg of the western tour, as they learned of his imminent arrest upon touching down in Vihiga.
This further prompted him to stay aboard the chopper and fly back to Nairobi to evade arrest.
As such, Iria was summoned to appear at EACC offices by Wednesday, April 17 morning but he has failed to do so.
