13 former Isiolo County Government officials are set to lose Ksh7.2 million acquired through fraudulent means.
The funds shall be recovered by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) after the anti-graft body received a green light to proceed with the recovery in a case presided over by High Court Judge Esther Maina.
According to reports, the officials including two former chief officers and a personal assistant to the then governor acquired the funds through procurement fraud.
The officials are accused of paying the amount to a private company owned by one of them despite not having delivered any goods or rendered any services to the county government.
Additionally, the suspects were accused of using forged documents to claim that the goods such as food items had been delivered and supplied to the devolved unit.
"The county officials used forged documents, pretending that the company had supplied assorted food items including; 300 bags of rice, 250 bags of sugar, 400 bags of maize flour, 485 bags of wheat flour, and 300 *20 litres of cooking oil," the commission stated.
EACC revealed that this amount was embezzled in 2014 and paid to a private company.
Investigations are ongoing to hold all those involved in the fraudulent procurement and misuse of public funds accountable. Those found guilty will face charges.
Notably, EACC is cracking down on government officials and institutions misusing public funds. Recently, the commission released a survey of the most corrupt government institutions.
In counties, Nairobi and Machakos were ranked among the most corrupt. Others in the top 10 were; Murang'a, Kisii, Busia, Nakuru, Baringo, Siaya, West Pokot, Samburu, and Kakamega among others.
Isiolo was ranked in the 25th position as one of the counties a person is likely to be asked for a bribe.
In January, other former Isiolo county officials were arrested for over Ksh58.6 million in procurement fraud. The suspects were accused of embezzling the funds in the 2018/2019 Financial Year.
EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak revealed that the former officials were involved in a plan to fraudulently award a tender for the supply and delivery of a fire engine to a private company.
