The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) conducted coordinated raids early Wednesday morning, targeting the homes and offices of Nyamira County Governor, Amos Nyaribo, and several senior county officials.
This action follows allegations linking Nyaribo to a Ksh382 million irregular tender, stirring suspicions of corruption and embezzlement within the county's administration.
The operation, which spanned multiple locations, also included officials from key county departments, such as Housing, Finance, Roads, and Public Works. EACC agents conducted simultaneous searches in Nyamira, Kisii, and Nairobi counties, aiming to recover critical documents and digital evidence that could support investigations into procurement irregularities and potential financial mismanagement.
According to reports, the Sh328 million tender, awarded for the construction of a Nyamira County Government building, was given to a contractor accused of receiving payments far exceeding the actual work completed.
Valuation reports suggest a substantial loss of public funds, raising questions about the value for money in the project’s execution. In addition, Governor Nyaribo is under investigation for allegedly approving unauthorized payments to himself, totaling Sh18 million.
This amount includes a voluntary Sh5 million payment and a Sh13 million reimbursement for housing allowances.
The investigation into Nyaribo is part of a broader EACC crackdown on corruption in county governments. In August, the commission disclosed that nine county governors were being investigated for various graft-related offenses. The scale of corruption within devolved units has been described as alarming by EACC Chairperson David Oginde.
This latest development follows a series of high-profile operations by the EACC, including the April raids at the residence and office of Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi.
Additionally, the commission launched another raid in May involving Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya, who was implicated in a Ksh1.4 billion embezzlement scheme. The EACC has vowed to continue pursuing these cases with the aim of restoring integrity in public offices.
