EACC Arrests Kitui Chief Officer, Five Contractors Over Ksh17.5 Million Tender Scandal as Hunt for Three More Suspects Intensifies
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a senior Kitui County official and five directors of private contracting firms over an alleged Ksh17.48 million procurement scandal, in the latest crackdown on corruption within county governments.
The anti-graft agency confirmed the arrests on Thursday, August 6, saying investigations had uncovered alleged conflict of interest, abuse of office and procurement irregularities involving contracts awarded over several financial years.
According to the commission, three additional suspects remain at large, prompting the agency to issue a public directive ordering them to surrender immediately.
“EACC hereby directs the following individuals who are believed to have gone into hiding to report immediately to the Commission’s Lower Eastern Regional Office in Machakos or the nearest EACC office for processing,” the commission said in a statement.
The six suspects already in custody were expected to be arraigned before the Kitui Law Courts on Thursday afternoon to face multiple corruption-related charges.
ODPP Approves Prosecution of Nine Suspects
The arrests follow months of investigations, after which the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved the prosecution of nine suspects linked to the alleged scheme.
The suspects are expected to face several charges, including:
- Conflict of interest
- Abuse of office
- Money laundering
- Acquisition of proceeds of crime
- Engaging in corrupt procurement practices
“Upon conclusion of the investigations, the inquiry file was forwarded to the DPP, who approved the prosecution of nine suspects on various charges, including conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and engaging in corrupt procurement practices,” EACC stated.
Chief Officer Accused of Trading With County Through Proxy Firms
According to investigators, the county official allegedly conducted business with the Kitui County Government through companies linked to him while simultaneously serving as the Chief Officer and Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) holder in the Departments of Irrigation, Agriculture and Fisheries.
The commission alleges that the official exploited his position by awarding contracts or approving payments to businesses associated with close relatives and associates, creating a direct conflict of interest.
EACC further revealed that the companies under investigation allegedly received more than Ksh14.1 million from Kitui County between the 2018/19 and 2024/25 financial years.
Financial investigators also reportedly traced transactions between the public officer and some of the directors of the companies at the centre of the investigations, strengthening the prosecution’s case.
Latest Move in Nationwide Anti-Corruption Drive
The Kitui arrests are part of the EACC’s broader campaign targeting alleged corruption and procurement fraud in county governments across the country.
In recent weeks, the commission has intensified investigations and arrests involving public officials in several devolved units, including Nairobi, Nakuru and Narok counties, signalling a renewed effort to curb misuse of public funds and hold state officers accountable.
With the ODPP now having approved the prosecution, attention will shift to the court proceedings as authorities continue searching for the three remaining suspects who are yet to surrender.
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