Nyeri County under probe for ‘misuse of Sh61 million’

By Nderitu Gichure and Onesmus Nzioka

Kenya: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is investigating the Nyeri County government over the use of over Sh61 million for refurbishment of its offices.

Already, a Nyeri court has allowed the commission to conduct searches on the premises of some high-ranking officials in the county.

And as EACC moved in to probe the matter, some members of the Public Investment Committee (PIC) in the county, who raised the red flag over the issue, claim their lives are in danger.

The members, who have already recorded statements with the police, have been probing the use of Sh61 million in the refurbishment of the county government offices.

Nyeri OCS Maina Andei said they have received complaints from some PIC members. “They say they have been threatened by officials from the governor’s office,” Andei said.

In the ongoing probe, Nyeri Chief Magistrate Wilbroda Juma allowed the Commission officials to raid the county offices to retrieve some documents.

This was after an investigator with the Commission, Mr Japhet Baithalu said he had received credible information that senior county government officers “were engaged in corrupt practices and could assist in providing vital information to the commission.”

The affidavit seen by The Standard read that the county principal officer, the county accountant and the supplies chain manager abused their offices by allegedly effecting payments for works not done.

Governor Nderitu Gachagua’s office has however refuted claims that it had not competitively tendered for works, saying 31 registered contractors had participated in the bidding process.

“The county tendering committee resolved to procure the contractors through the restrictive tendering process,” said Nyeri Chief of Staff Mr Duncan Mathenge.

Meanwhile, an inventory of Makueni County government assets has revealed that resources worth billions cannot be accounted for.

Casting doubt

The audit was conducted by the Association of Professional Societies in East Africa (APSEA).

APSEA CEO Grace Injene said the inventory sought to list the value of assets inherited by the county governments from the defunct county councils, and will be conducted across all the counties.

Ruto Kibiwott, a consultant with APSEA said the former town council of Wote and Mtito Andei could not provide documentation for identification of any assets, especially land.

Kibiwott said the lack of land registration numbers cast doubt on the value given for such parcels as well as proof of their existence.

Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana said his administration did not recover any public assets from the hands of private individuals.