County officials in Nakuru under scrutiny over a suspected Sh22 million corruption case by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has called eight high-ranking officers from the Nakuru County Government for questioning, following concerns raised by the Senate's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over alleged irregularities in the county's financial management.

The investigation centres around the use of public funds for legal services by county officials, as highlighted in the Auditor General's recent report. The report revealed numerous questionable expenditures, including Sh22.4 million spent on foreign travel and Sh5.8 million on domestic travel, despite announced austerity measures by President William Ruto.

The county attorney, Caleb Nyamwange, was absent during the audit, prompting concerns. The audit also flagged Sh2 billion in pending bills not settled as required by law, Sh93.3 million on training with no supporting documentation, Sh159 million in payments to employees outside the official payroll system, and Sh6.8 million spent on tyres, as well as a total of Sh21 million on routine vehicle maintenance without proper explanation.

The Senate PAC expressed concerns about these findings during a session, and the matter was referred to the EACC due to the county attorney's absence and unclear response. The summoned officers include Nyamwange, Public Service Chief Officer Charles Koech, Gender and Youth CO Gladys Kamuren, Assembly Clerk Joseph Malinda, Director of Supply Chain Management Annemarie Kuria, Head of Budget and Planning Ashina Wanga, Martin Kagai (CO in the Governor's Office), and Finance CO Everline Kakai.

The officers have been asked to carry their appointment letters and any relevant documentation. They are expected to explain how legal services amounting to Sh22.6 million were procured from private law firms without the approval of the county executive committee.

Moreover, the report noted that no documentation was provided to clarify how the law firms were identified for engagement. The commission has instructed the officers to appear for interview and statement recording from September 2, 2025, through September 4, 2025.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee has expressed concerns about the audit findings, and the EACC's subsequent action is a step towards ensuring accountability and transparency in Nakuru County's financial management.

County officials in Nakuru under scrutiny over a suspected Sh22 million corruption case by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)