EACC raids Samburu County, arrest three senior county officials

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) raided offices of the County Government of Samburu and arrested three county officials for alleged corruption and violation of procurement laws and regulations.

In a statement seen by Niaje.co.ke, the commission has disclosed that the officers were involved in an irregular tender award  to CMC Motor group Limited for the supply of tractors and ploughs, that cost taxpayers Kshs 8.4 million.

The three officials were identified as Agriculture Chief Officer Reuben Lemunyete, his Finance counterpart Daniel Nakuo and Head of Procurement Geoffrey Kitewan.

The three were accused of willfully misrepresenting facts to influence the award of the tender to the aforementioned firm.

“The investigations established that the county officials willfully failed to comply with the procurement laws and procedures by awarding and authorizing payment of Ksh8,418,964.00 to M/s CMC Motor Group Ltd for supply and delivery of two (2) tractors and two (2) ploughs”, part of the statement clarified.

Today EACC arrested senior county officials of the County Government of Samburu for embezzlement of public funds in the award of tender worth Kshs. 8.4M. Enclosed is a press statement of the same. pic.twitter.com/ICzvbmVzyx

— EACC (@EACCKenya) June 15, 2020

EACC further noted that the findings had been forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji. The three are set to be charged with various offenses in line with the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, and are set to be arraigned in court Tuesday, June 16.

The arrest of the three officials comes months after the arrest of Samburu Governor Moses Lenokulal over corruption allegations

At the time, investigations established that the governor was trading with his county government through Oryx Service Station for the supply of fuel from March 27, 2013, until 2019.