Three Homa Bay County Officials Among Six Arrested Over Ksh85 Million Fraud -

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested six people linked to Ksh85 million fraudulent dealings in Homa Bay County.

The suspects arrested on Monday include three officers from the county government and three suppliers.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak said the suspects conspired to steal public funds through irregular tenders and disbursement of multiple monthly salaries.

The companies that were awarded the tenders, the EACC boss said, are associated with the officials.

Read: Migori County Speaker, 9 Others Arrested Over Alleged Graft

Those arrested include former Clerk of the County Assembly Bob Otieno, Chief Finance Officer Caroline Chepkemoi, Senior Accounts Controller Maurice Odiwuor and Evelyne Awino, a director of Nyangume Enterprises.

Others are directors of Damila Enterprises David Obonyo and Lilian Achieng.

“Whereas the individuals irregularly received multiple monthly salary payments, the companies received large value remittances, with insignificant supporting documents. The total money remittance from the County amounts to Kshs.85,177,811/=,” Mbarak said in a statement.

Mbarak revealed that Nyagume Enterprises Limited is owned by the wife of the former clerk of the County Assembly (Otieno).

Further, EACC investigators established that Damila Enterprises Limited is owned by Obonyo, a former branch manager, Equity Bank, Homa Bay Branch.

“Nyangume Enterprises Limited received Kshs.26,272,460 while Damila Enterprises limited received Kshs.46,542,645 from the Homa Bay County Assembly accounts yet they did not deliver any goods or service to the County,” said Mbarak.

Otieno is alleged to have in turn received a total of Ksh24.2 million and Ksh750,000 from Damila Enterprises Limited and Nyangume Enterprises Limited respectively.

“Mrs Achieng Lilian Aloo, wife to the branch Manager, Equity bank, Homa Bay branch received Kshs 12,362,706.5 from the County narrated as ‘salary’ while she was not employed by the County,” added Mbarak.

“The Chief Finance Officer, Mrs Caroline Sang and the senior accounts controller Mr Maurice Amek received Kshs3.95 Million and Ksh5 Million respectively from Damila Enterprises Limited as benefits.”

The suspects will be arraigned in court on Tuesday to answer, among others, unlawful acquisition of public property, dealing with suspect property, stealing, and money laundering charges.

PRESS RELEASE – ARREST OF SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF HOMA BAY AND OTHER SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS pic.twitter.com/HEOxxIA154

— EACC (@EACCKenya) November 15, 2021