The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Thursday, December 15 obtained orders to freeze two properties belonging to former Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria's wife.
According to the Commission, Wa Iria's wife illegally got a contract from the County Government of Murang'a.
EACC also demanded the Governor and his wife to surrender their two properties to the National Government. They included a Nairobi Block at Umoja Innercore and another one in Nyeri.
EACC added that several cases of procurement irregularities were reported in the County Government of Murang'a under Wa Iria's watch.
Wa Iria was also accused of embezzling public funds and investing in properties belonging to him, his wife, and his associates
One property in question is worth Ksh7.5 million while the other is worth Ksh8.8 million.
Under his administration, the EACC accused the governor's office of being linked to rampant cases of conflict of interest among public officials.
In January 2022, the High Court froze property worth Ksh16 million linked to the former Governor. The two properties were located in Nyeri and Nairobi.
It was alleged that the two properties were acquired through a media company on behalf of another firm where Wa Iria's wife acted as the director.
“The fourth defendant being a public officer and agent of Murang’a County knowingly held a private interest in the contracts for media buying services, entered between the 2nd defendant (the media company) and the county and which private interest was in conflict with his powers and functions of his public office,” read the court documents in part.
Wa Iria was among the presidential aspirants in the 2022 General Election. He was, however, unsuccessful to have his name on the ballot for failing to provide the necessary documents in time.
