Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya risks being rearrested after the Director of Public Prosecution Renson Igonga approved his recommendation.
Ingonga concurred with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) that Oparanya, an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) deputy leader, has a case to answer in a graft probe.
In a quarterly report released by EACC, the anti-corruption crusaders claimed that the former governor was investigated for allegedly receiving Ksh56 million in kickbacks through tenders awarded to various companies in his 10-year term that ended in 2022.
The Commission further alleged that the former governor received the money through proxies.
Oparanya, furthermore, received payments for the use of his property to the tune of Ksh9 million.
"It was also established that the former Governor entered into a tenancy agreement with the Kakamega County Government for a lease of land reference number Marama/Shianda/442 and the buildings erected thereon for Ksh9,200,000.
"The said land was established to be the Governor’s property yet again he was being paid by the County Government in a clear case of conflict of interest. Investigations established that the former Governor irregularly received a benefit of Kshs. 56,740,325/= in total from the County Government of Kakamega," read the allegation in the report.
Following its investigations., EACC recommended the former county boss be charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of office and money laundering.
Also facing fresh arrests are his spouses and some of the directors of the companies accused of receiving the tenders.
"On November 16, 2023, the DPP returned the inquiry file with recommendations for further investigations. The Commission conducted further investigations and resubmitted the file to DPP on December 4, 2023. On December 18, 2023, the DPP returned the file and concurred with the Commission’s recommendations for prosecution," EACC alleged.
However, the arrest of the governor could prove to be an uphill task given that he obtained orders barring his arrest and prosecution.
The orders were granted following an earlier raid at his home in Nairobi in August 2023. The governor was also grilled at the Integrity Centre and released shortly after.
Meanwhile, EACC is also still pursuing investigations against other national and county government officials for various offences.
The report highlighted that the DPP directed EACC to conduct further investigation in 14 graft cases.
