The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a Siaya County Government employee over alleged embezzlement of Ksh100 million.
In a statement on Tuesday, August 26, the commission said Hezron Junior Opiyo, alias Hezron Opiyo, is accused of diverting the funds through fraudulent allowances.
"The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has today, Tuesday, 26th August 2025, arrested Mr. Hezron Junior Opiyo, alias Hezron Opiyo, an employee of the Siaya County Government, for allegedly embezzling approximately Ksh100 million through payment of fraudulent and fictitious allowances," the statement read.
According to the commission, Opiyo, an accountant at the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, orchestrated the fraudulent scheme by disguising fictitious payments as official county allowances.
"Investigations by the Commission revealed that Mr. Opiyo, an accountant at the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, fraudulently processed payments disguised as allowances for training and other official county engagements that never took place," the statement added.
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EACC explained that the arrest followed the completion of a probe into alleged embezzlement of Ksh400 million at the county.
"The investigations follow a complaint into alleged embezzlement of approximately Ksh400 million by several Siaya County officials.
"Upon completion of investigations, EACC forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who concurred with the Commission's recommendations to initiate criminal proceedings against the suspect," the statement added.
Beyond the criminal case, the commission said it has also launched efforts to recover the funds plus the accrued interest
"Alongside the criminal proceedings, EACC has initiated civil recovery of Ksh102,950,307.00, plus accrued interest, illegally obtained by the suspect. The Commission is also investigating seven other cases relating to allegations of fraudulent payment of allowances to Siaya County Officials totaling over Ksh700 Million, which were paid between 2017 and 2022," the statement further read.
Opiyo is currently being held at Kisumu Port Police Station and is expected to be arraigned before the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, August 27.
Earlier in the month, EACC confirmed the arrest of six Busia County senior officials over irregular tenders amounting to Ksh1.4 billion.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 7, the EACC said the swoop included searches at the officials’ offices and private residences.
"The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) today conducted a coordinated search operation at the offices and residences of six senior officials from the County Government of Busia as part of ongoing investigations into allegations of procurement irregularities, conflict of interest, theft of public funds, and unexplained wealth," the statement read.
EACC added that the raids recovered critical documents and digital evidence believed to support the allegations.
"The search operation yielded valuable evidence to support the ongoing probe. All suspects were escorted to EACC Western Regional Offices for statement recording.
"Upon conclusion of investigations, the Commission will take appropriate action, including prosecution and recovery of unexplained assets," the statement concluded.
