Officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) apprehended 11 Vihiga County Government officials, over the alleged theft of Ksh17 million.
Among the officials arrested include, Dr. Arnold Kimiyia Mamadi, Chief Officer for Medical Services, and Godfrey Oyaro, Director of Procurement.
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EACC in a statement on Thursday, June 13, 2024, said that the 11 suspects are accused of misappropriating Ksh17 million in public funds by making deceitful payments for fictitious projects in the supposed construction of a Blood Transfusion Centre in Vihiga, aimed at aiding patients in need of blood transfusions.
“The suspects allegedly embezzled public funds amounting to Ksh17 million through fraudulent payments for non-existent works in purported construction of a Blood Transfusion Centre in Vihiga to help patients requiring blood transfusion,” reads part of the statement.
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Having spent the night at Kisumu Port Police Station, the suspects were taken to the Kakamega Law Courts for their arraignment.
Additionally, EACC has issued an order for the 12th suspect, QS. Eugene Wandera Wamalwa, Principal Quantity Surveyor at Vihiga County, to report to the EACC Regional Office in Kisumu immediately this morning without any delay.
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EACC sunk Vihiga County Government
In October 2023, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) raised concerns about the Vihiga County government.
Also Read: Blow for Corrupt Leaders as EACC Recommends New Changes to Anti-corruption Act
The Commission found over 40 ghost employees on the payroll who claimed to have worked there between 2013 and 2023.
“The applicant’s preliminary findings have raised a reasonable suspicion that considering that the respondent is not an employee of the County Government of Vihiga, the monies paid in the form of salaries amounts to corrupt conduct,” officials at EACC said.
The EACC informed the court that initial investigations indicated suspicious activity surrounding the payments made to these individuals who were not genuine employees of the County Government of Vihiga could be considered corrupt behavior.
Further, the High Court decided to freeze more than Ksh1.8 million from a woman suspected of receiving a monthly salary from the Vihiga County government without being an actual employee.
Justice Nixon Sifuna granted the request to freeze her bank account for six months while the EACC conducted further investigations.
Also Read: EACC Arrests NITA Boss, His Wife & 2 Other Suspects
During this period, the suspect and her representatives were not permitted to withdraw or transfer any money from their accounts.
Education chief officer Noel Malanda arrested
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on 7 Jan 2024, also arrested Noel Malanda, the Vihiga Education Chief Officer and held in relation to a corruption investigation involving her and other top officials, as reported by the ethics watchdog.
EACC added that Malanda, who is responsible for science and technology as well, is being investigated for accusations of demanding money through extortion, receiving kickbacks, and engaging in other corrupt activities related to contract management in her department.
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