EACC questions eight Bomet County officials in Sh1.5b embezzlement probe

EACC offices at the Integrity centre, Nairobi. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Eight Bomet County officials were rounded up and questioned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on Thursday over alleged embezzlement of Sh1.53 billion.

In a sting operation conducted by EACC sleuths drawn from Nairobi and Nakuru, the officers were picked from their homes and driven to the county headquarters for questioning.

EACC is pursuing Sh1.5 billion fraudulent payments to companies allegedly owned by unnamed County officials.

The operation targeted CECs, Chief Officers, and Senior county officers.

The officers carted away dozens of documents from the homes of the county officers and various county offices.

EACC spokesperson Ngumbi Eric, while responding to inquiries said the operations were pursuant to court orders.

He said it was part of investigations into alleged conflict of interest linked to companies owned by County officials that had been fraudulently paid Sh1.2 billion.

Ngumbi added that apart of the investigations involved allegations of abuse of office, conflict of interests, unexplained wealth, and theft of Sh373 million in the procurement of 12 heavy road machines during the Financial Year 2022/2023.

“The suspects have allegedly abused their positions of trust and authority to embezzle public funds through collusion, procurement fraud, and payments for non-existent or substandard services,” said the spokesperson.

The crackdown down happened as Governor Hillary Barchok hosted President William Ruto at Tenwek for the launch of a Sh4.5 billion Cardiothoracic Hospital.