A former Political Affairs Director in the Taita Taveta County Government has been arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations of fraud involving more than Ksh12.4 million, in a widening crackdown on suspected corruption within devolved units.
According to investigators, the arrest follows months of inquiries into alleged misappropriation and fraudulent acquisition of public funds during the official’s tenure at the county government. The suspect is expected to be arraigned before the Voi Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday.
The commission said its probe established that the former official could not account for millions of shillings that were under his control while serving in office.
“Investigations established that the official fraudulently acquired public funds and failed to account for Ksh12,458,990 while serving at the Taita Taveta County Government,” the commission stated.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, EACC forwarded the file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review. Prosecutors later approved multiple charges, including fraudulent acquisition of public property and deceiving a principal under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
The ODPP confirmed there was sufficient evidence to proceed with prosecution, paving the way for the suspect’s arraignment. If convicted, the former official faces penalties linked to corruption and economic crimes, which may include fines, asset recovery orders, and imprisonment depending on the court’s findings.
The latest arrest comes amid intensified nationwide anti-corruption operations targeting senior public officials. Authorities say more arrests and asset recovery actions are expected as ongoing investigations continue across several counties.
