Two arrested in Sh296 million bursary fraud, two others in hiding

Integrity Centre that houses the EACC head offices in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested two suspects for misappropriation and theft of public funds amounting to Sh296 million in West Pokot.

According to an EACC report, Mary Ngoriakes, the former Chief Officer of Education, and Mathew Arusio, the former County Director of Bursary, are accused of committing the crimes between 2017 and 2022.

Meanwhile, two other suspects, Simon Kodomuk, the former Chief Officer of Education, and Francis Tikol, the former Assistant County Director of Bursary, remain at large.

EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi stated that the stolen funds, totaling Sh296 million, were originally allocated as bursaries to support underprivileged students in the county.

However, the accused allegedly assumed non-existent roles as Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) members and falsified minutes from fictitious meetings while regularly syphoning funds from the county.

Following extensive investigations, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged the four suspects with corruption, failure to comply with procurement procedures, and mismanagement of public funds, among other offences.

The two suspects in custody are currently being processed at the EACC North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret.

The commission has also directed the two suspects, believed to be in hiding, to surrender by tomorrow, Tuesday.

All four suspects are expected to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, September 24.