The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Detectives has commenced investigations into an alleged Sh95 million conflict of interest scandal involving three Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) and some County Officials.
EACC detectives on Monday night raided eight homes belonging to the suspects and also pitched tent at the county headquarters for the better part of the day gathering evidence into the alleged tender award scandal.
According to EACC Central Regional Manager Japheth Baithalu, the officials on their radar are alleged to have used companies linked to them, or they have beneficial interest in to secure lucrative county tenders.
Speaking outside county procurement offices where their detectives spent the day gathering evidence, the Manager said the three MCAs are suspected of being linked to 11 companies that were awarded tenders by the County Government.
He said preliminary investigations show that the MCAs and County Officials implicated in the scandal received approximately Sh95 million through the irregularly awarded contracts.
The detectives took away procurement documents, payment records, and contract files linked to the companies associated with the MCAs that the manager said will aid in establishing whether due process was followed.
Baithalu said the commission is particularly keen on determining the role played by the MCAs in influencing the award of contracts and whether they failed to declare their interests as required by law.
He noted that the County Government has so far cooperated with investigators, even as the probe sparked tension within the offices when detectives moved in to secure key records.
The Commission said investigations are ongoing and assured that appropriate legal action will be taken against any MCA or official found culpable.
By Samuel Waititu
