Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua grilled by anti-graft officials

The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) officials have questioned Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua over alleged corruption in the county.

Mr Mutua appeared before the commission on Thursday and spent hours explaining allegations emerging from procurement of cars and other items, officials said. This follows an agreement reached in court last week.

Officials at EACC said investigations are ongoing and they may summon him again. “We agreed with him that we are acting in line with the court consent. But basically we told him we wanted to accord him a chance to hear his side of the story at the earliest opportunity possible.

We are conscious that he is a politician and because politics is about rivalry somebody might accuse him fairly and another unfairly. Our business however is not politics and we do not wish to be dragged in any form of politics. We will investigate and prosecute corruption wherever it occurs,” said EACC Chairman Mumo Matemu.

The governor had filed a petition seeking to have EACC barred from probing him over alleged graft in the procurement of county vehicles including ambulances and County Executives’ vehicles, among other undisclosed allegations.

“By consent, the petitioner (Mutua) shall be interviewed by EACC investigators on July 23,” read the consent reached after High Court Judge Isaac Lenaola asked both parties to hold discussions on the matter.

The governor moved to court seeking to block the agency from probing him and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) from preferring criminal charges against him in relation to the alleged fraud.

He wanted DPP and Inspector General of Police restrained from preferring charges against him. The DPP had argued that the Constitution mandates EACC to investigate any allegation reported and forward the report on the outcome.