The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Kitui County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries Gladys Mami Kivoto alongside five company directors over alleged conflict of interest and procurement irregularities involving contracts worth Ksh17,484,484.49.
In a statement on Thursday, August 6, the agency said investigations began after allegations emerged that Kivoto had used proxy companies to conduct business with the County Government of Kitui.
"The Commission commenced investigations following allegations that Ms. Gladys Mami Kivoto, a Chief Officer in the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, traded with the County through five proxy companies namely Shanel Construction Company Ltd, ECO Stone Company Limited, AZ Links Company Ltd, DTK Construction Company Ltd, and 4-Walls Company Ltd.
"The companies were cumulatively paid Ksh14,115,916.30 by the County between the 2018/2019 and 2024/2025 Financial Years," the statement read.
EACC said investigations established that Kivoto, while serving as the Chief Officer and AIE Holder in the Departments of Irrigation and Agriculture and Fisheries, awarded contracts and approved payments to the companies under investigation.
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Detectives also established that Josephine Mwikali Wambua, the director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd, Makoma Wambua, the director of AZ Links Company Ltd, and Emmanuel Wambua, the director of ECO Stone Company Limited, are close relatives of the chief officer.
Further investigations also uncovered financial transactions showing movement of funds between Kivoto and the directors of DTK Construction Company Limited and 4-Walls Company Limited.
The findings were forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved criminal charges against nine individuals, including allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime and corrupt procurement practices.
"Upon conclusion of the investigations, the inquiry file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved the prosecution of nine suspects on various charges, including conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and engaging in corrupt procurement practices," the statement added.
The six suspects arrested are Kivoto, Mwikali, Director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd; Roselyne Kyambi Kilonzi, Director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd; Mary Mueni Mbiti, Director of DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Limited; Jonathan Kivondo Kieti, Director of DTK Construction Company Ltd; and Onesmus Munyao Nzioka, Director of ECO Stone Company Limited.
"The suspects are expected to be arraigned before the Kitui Law Courts this afternoon," the statement further read.
EACC also directed three other suspects who are believed to have gone into hiding to report immediately to its Lower Eastern Regional Office in Machakos or the nearest EACC office for processing.
They are Makoma, Director of ECO Stone Company Limited; Emmanuel, Director of AZ Links Company Ltd; and Stella Nthenya Kioko, Director of AZ Links Company Ltd.
Elsewhere, detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) arrested a director of a college in Eldoret in connection with issuing forged academic certificates.
In a statement on Wednesday, August 5, DCI identified the suspect as Philip Kipsoi Kiyeng, the Director of Region Group College.
Kiyeng was arrested following investigations prompted by a complaint by the Public Service Commission (PSC) during the authentication of academic certificates.
According to DCI, the suspect allegedly misrepresented Region Group College as being affiliated with Moi University, convincing a student to enroll for a Diploma in Business Management.
The student was then issued with a diploma after completing the course, which he genuinely believed was authentic and subsequently presented to his employer.
However, the diploma was flagged during the PSC's verification exercise and was confirmed to be a forged certificate, leading to the victim's dismissal from employment.
After completing investigations against Kiyeng, the DCI forwarded the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges against the suspect.
The suspect is set to face charges of making a false document, contrary to Section 347(a) as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code, among other offences.
"Upon conclusion of investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges against the suspect, including making a false document contrary to Section 347(a) as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code, among other offences," DCI stated.
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