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Former senior officials of the Homa Bay County have been arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the alleged irregular procurement of contracts worth Sh348.9 million.
In a press statement, EACC Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication Stephen Karuga said the arrests involve former county officials, a former national government official, a contractor and his wife. The arrests relate to alleged irregularities in the procurement of the Homa Bay County Assembly office block.
Those arrested include former Homa Bay County Assembly Clerk Faith Apuko; former Senior Superintendent Quantity Surveyor at the State Department of Public Works, Patrick Tunoi; former county executive committee member for Lands, Roseline Odhiambo; and the director of Heartland Enterprises Ltd, James Oyukah, together with his wife, Mary Oduor.
The EACC is also seeking the former clerk of the Homa Bay County Assembly, Daniel Kaudo, after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ordered his arrest over the same alleged offences.
According to the commission, the suspects are accused of irregularly awarding a tender for the construction of the county assembly office block to Heartland Enterprises Ltd, whose directors were employees of the Homa Bay County Government at the time.
The officials are further accused of entering into a contract with the firm without a valid performance guarantee, leading to the unlawful payment of Sh66.7 million.
“Upon conclusion of the investigations, the commission forwarded the investigations file to the DPP, who, upon review, approved charges against the suspects,” the EACC said in the statement.
The five suspects were escorted to Homa Bay Police Station, where they are being held pending arraignment in the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Court.
Meanwhile, the EACC called on Mr Kaudo to surrender to the police.
“The commission calls upon the remaining suspect, Mr Kaudo, to present himself to Homa Bay Police Station or any EACC office,” Karuga said.
