Fernandes Barasa Summoned by EACC Over Ksh 785M Ketraco Scandal

Fernandes Barasa in company of other legislators during a past event
Fernandes Barasa in company of other legislators during a past event
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Fernandes Barasa

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Wednesday, November 2, summoned Kakamega governor over allged loss of funds at the Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (Ketraco).

Fernandes Barasa who floored Cleophas Malala to become the second Kakamega county boss is set to appear before the anti-corruption agency next week on Monday November, 7.

Barasa is accused of misappropriating Ksh785 million when he served as Ketraco CEO before resigning in the run up to 2022 elections. This was through excess payment made to Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) for a project in Marsabit County.

Kakamega Givernor-elect Fernandes Barasa and his ODM party boss Raila Odinga during a public rally on August 26, 2022
Kakamega governor-elect Fernandes Barasa and ODM party leader, Raila Odinga, at a public rally on August 26, 2022
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This is not the first time the governor is being summoned to respond to queries regarding the scandal.

He was set to appear before National Assembly Public Investments Committee (PIC) in February, when he resigned.

In a dramatic turn of events, Barasa resigned as boss of Ketraco a day before he was to appear before the parliamentary committee, which was chaired by the then Mvita Member of Parliament Abdulswamad Nassir, now Mombasa Governor.

At the time he said he was resigning according to constitutional timelines so as to vie for governor. Constitutionally, state officers and public servants resigned at least six months before the date of general elections.

Barasa will become the first high profile politician to appear before the commission since change of government.

His summon came at a time when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is reviewing corruption cases touching on politicians and other high-profile Kenyans.

DPP Noordin Haji said that some of the charges were trumped up against Kenyans who were perceived to be anti-government, with no or manipulated evidence.

Referring to a case against deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua, he said that investigating authorities fed his office with doctored documents.

"The decision was made on the threshold. We were pushed by the DCI himself through the media to the extent that individuals were going to say that we did not want to make the decision to charge Gachagua because we were compromised or some of us were sympathetic to certain people.

"However, when we looked at the evidence, we felt there was sufficient evidence to charge but later we discovered the documents were forged," he stated. 

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa
Kakamega Governor, Fernandes Barasa
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