The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned the Director-Generals of the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), and Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to record statements in an ongoing graft probe involving Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi.
As part of the investigation, the anti-graft agency has also frozen bank accounts belonging to five companies believed to have been part of alleged irregular dealings.
The summons came just moments after Wamatangi moved to court seeking to bar the EACC from apprehending or prosecuting him over the alleged graft claims.
In court documents, the governor dismissed the accusations as unfounded and maintained that he was not involved in the procurement matters being probed.
Wamatangi argued that the commission's actions were politically motivated and aimed at tainting his reputation, even as the EACC intensified investigations into questionable contracts awarded under his administration.
On April 15, detectives from the EACC raided the office and residence of the governor, as well as the premises of nine other senior county officials, in a raid suspected to be related to the embezzlement of public funds and conflicts of interest.
The 10 public officials were reportedly under investigation for the mismanagement of funds in the county.
Following the raid and subsequent apprehension of the county boss, the anti-graft commission later revealed that it recovered millions of shillings in the governor's residence.
According to EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud, a total of Ksh13 million was recovered in cash at the home of the governor, amounts which the graft body believed were proceeds of unscrupulous dealings.
Additionally, detectives recovered USD 13,000 in cash, equivalent to approximately Ksh1.68 million.
Mohamud revealed that it would use the money recovered and other shards of evidence before them to prosecute individuals linked to the graft allegations.
"Today's operation has resulted in the recovery of critical evidentiary material to support ongoing investigations. This includes the seizure of Ksh12 million and Ksh1,685,320 (USD 13,000) in cash from the residence of Governor Kimani Wamatangi, which is believed to be proceeds of graft," a statement from the anti-graft commission reads in part.
"Upon conclusion of the investigation, the findings will guide the appropriate course of action, which may include the prosecution of any individuals found culpable, the forfeiture of unexplained assets, and the confiscation of proceeds linked to graft."
