On Thursday 26 September, detectives from the EACC arrested two finance officials following the Wednesday early morning fire that gutted down Busia County offices, destroying crucial files and computers.
The fire has attracted the attention of EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak and DPP Noordin Haji, who warned individuals who impede investigations by destroying evidence that the law will catch up with them.
EACC detectives are probing the fire to determine whether it was an accident or sabotage, the main focus being placed on computers and files that were central to an ongoing corruption investigation.
“If it is sabotage, we will make sure we prosecute those involved in that obstruction and arson,” stated DPP Haji.
There are two ongoing corruption cases in Busia County. The first is on the county’s water master plan where Ksh13 million was paid to a contractor for work that has not been done.
The second investigation is on a case where Ksh56 million was paid through proxies, to three companies allegedly owned by a senior accountant between 2015 and 2019. Evan, Draccy and Lovianna enterprises as said by the EACC, are owned by the wife and brother to the senior accountant.
However, what raises eyebrows is that the three companies have been awarded a total of 26 multi-million tenders from various offices in the county. The office of the governor, lands, water and community development.
Out of the 26 tenders the firms were allegedly awarded, close to Ksh32.3 million was paid by the finance department where the senior accountant is the boss.
In 2018, Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong' and nine others were arrested by EACC anti-graft sleuths in connection to a Ksh8 million pilferage from the county’s coffers, through questionable contracts.
The burning of Busia County finance offices isn't an isolated case in the country. On July 22, Kitui County finance offices were consumed by an inferno after a similar incident occurred.
In 2017, the offices of Homa Bay Governor Cyprian Awiti were burnt down following a suspected arson attack at the county headquarters. Unknown people are said to have set the building on fire situated in Homa Bay Town
Below is the video detailing the arrests of the officials courtesy of Citizen TV
