Officers from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested 11 officials of Vihiga County government.
In a statement on Thursday, June 13, EACC noted that the officials were suspected to have embezzled public funds amounting to Ksh17 million.
"EACC has arrested 11 officials of Vihiga County Government, among them the Chief Officer for Medical Services Dr. Arnold Kimiyia Mamadi and Director of Procurement Godfrey Oyaro, to be charged before Kakamega Anti-Corruption Court this morning, at 9:00 am.
"The suspects allegedly embezzled public funds amounting to Kes.17 million through fraudulent payments for non-existent works in purported construction of a Blood Transfusion Centre in Vihiga to help patients requiring blood transfusion," EACC remarked.
The suspects were escorted to Kakamega Law Courts on Thursday morning to take plea after spending the night at Kisumu Port Police Station.
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EACC disclosed that another suspect implicated in the scam was on the run and ordered him to report to the EACC Regional Office in Kisumu.
"The Commission ORDERS the 12th suspect, QS. Eugene Wandera Wamalwa, Principal Quantity Surveyor, Vihiga County, who is on the run to immediately report to EACC Regional Office in Kisumu, this morning, without fail," EAC stated.
The arrest comes after the commission launched an investigation on Tuesday over an alleged embezzlement of Sh1.2 billion by eight senior officials from Garissa County.
EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi noted that the officials were alleged to be directly or indirectly trading with the county government through their own firms or those owned by their close family members.