The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three directors of Ramagon Construction Company Limited in connection with a major procurement scandal involving the Matili Technical Training Institute in Bungoma County.
The suspects — Abdi Barre Abdi, Hassan Bare Abdi, and Nagenye Mohamud Dahir — were apprehended on Wednesday as investigations intensify into alleged procurement irregularities, theft of public funds, and fraudulent acquisition of public property linked to the 2010/2011 financial year.
According to EACC, the case revolves around a tender initially valued at KSh 29 million for the construction of a twin workshops complex at the institute, which was irregularly inflated to over KSh 58 million.
Investigators say the directors, in collusion with unnamed public officials, orchestrated the inflation of the project cost, resulting in an illegal overpayment of more than KSh 22 million for services that were never rendered.
Further, the commission revealed that the company fraudulently claimed an additional KSh 9 million, which had already been paid, leading to the unlawful disposal of public property through two auction firms — Eshikhoni Auctioneers and Dominion Auctioneers.
As part of the disposal, a motor vehicle belonging to Matili Driving School, valued at KSh 5.4 million, was auctioned off by Eshikhoni Auctioneers for just KSh 1.2 million, raising red flags over the legitimacy of the auction process.
EACC stated that it has gathered sufficient evidence to initiate criminal proceedings against the three directors and is also seeking to recover all unlawfully acquired or disposed public assets.
The arrests mark a significant development in the commission’s efforts to crack down on entrenched corruption in public procurement and safeguard taxpayer resources
