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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Monday, 19th May, arrested Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya over the alleged embezzlement of county funds.
According to EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud, the operation was part of the ongoing investigations into alleged misuse of Sh1.4 billion by the county government.
While raiding the governor’s home and offices, Mohamud confirmed that the search was conducted with a court order.
Their probe was focusing on alleged irregular procurement, fictitious payments, bribery, and abuse of office involving senior county officials.
According to one of his lawyers, Ndegwa Njiri, the governor was presented at the EACC headquarters in Nairobi on Monday morning for a statement recording.
He, however, noted that his legal team has been denied access, and the Governor will remain under detention till further notice.
“They have locked in our client, but we are not able to access him or give him any legal counsel on the process that is currently being undertaken,” he said.
The alleged irregularities are believed to have occurred in the 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 Financial Years.
EACC added that the incidents relate to three major county projects, among them the rehabilitation and modernisation of Kenyatta Stadium (Phase 1A), the construction of the county headquarters offices and the construction of Tom Mboya Hospital.
“The Governor is alleged to have influenced the award of tenders and received kickbacks from contractors through proxies,” the Commission said.
EACC officers had earlier raided Natembeya’s home in Kitale, prompting ridicule from DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa.
“We will not allow harassment of the opposition and the weaponising of our justice system,” he said.
He added that the same harassment is being subjected to other opposition members, among them Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua and Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya.
