Editor's Review

The suspects are accused of conducting a flawed recruitment exercise that was characterized by allegations of corruption and nepotism among others.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four former senior officials from Nyamira County over allegations of abuse of office in the recruitment and appointment of 56 county staff. 

In a statement on Monday, March 3, the commission confirmed the arrests, citing irregularities in the hiring process.

The four officials include Peter Omwanza Ogwara, who previously served as the County Executive Committee Member and Beatrice Mokeira Siribah, a former commissioner of the Nyamira County Public Service Board.

Others are Chadwick Maranga Sangara, a former Principal Culture Officer and Geoffrey Ogeto Michira, a former Assistant Director of Administration.

File image of the suspects

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According to EACC, the suspects are accused of conducting a flawed recruitment exercise that was characterized by allegations of corruption and nepotism among others.

The commission further revealed that some of the positions that were filled through this process were neither approved by the county cabinet nor accounted for in the financial year budget. 

"The suspects are alleged to have irregularly hired 56 officers through a process that was tainted by allegations of influence peddling, corruption, nepotism, and clannism. Some of the positions filled were neither sanctioned by the cabinet nor accounted for in the budget for the 2016/2017 Financial Year," EACC said.

The suspects are currently being held at Kisii Central Police Station ahead of arraignment in court on Tuesday, March 4.

The arrests come a week after detectives from EACC apprehended officers attached to the Kenya Revenue Authorities (KRA) in connection with bribery at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

According to the commission, the duo was nabbed by officers during an ongoing crackdown on bribery at service delivery points.

According to the agency, the suspects, named Mutava Lawrence and Timothy Momanyi, demanded a Ksh120,000 bribe to release goods confiscated from a traveller.

The traveller however did not yield to their ways; he refused to give out the bribe and instead contacted the EACC over the matter.

Following their arrests, Ksh297,000 suspected to be proceeds of corruption and a firearm were recovered.