Wednesday morning in Nyamira turned tense when detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) descended on the homes and offices of Governor Amos Nyaribo and several top county officials.
The dawn raids, carried out simultaneously in Nyamira, Kisii, and Nairobi, are part of an investigation into an alleged Ksh382 million corruption scandal that has shaken the county’s leadership.
According to sources familiar with the operation, EACC officers were seeking key documents and digital evidence that could help piece together how public funds meant for a county government building were handled.
The project, valued at Ksh328 million, was awarded to a construction firm now accused of receiving hefty payments for work that may not have been completed.
Residents watched in disbelief as officers combed through the governor’s compound and those of senior officials from the Housing, Finance, Roads, and Public Works departments. For many, it was a jarring reminder of the growing frustration over how county projects are managed and the familiar fear that development money may have vanished into private pockets.
Preliminary reports suggest taxpayers could have lost millions of shillings through inflated payments and poor project oversight. Investigators also allege that Governor Nyaribo irregularly approved Ksh18 million in payments to himself including Ksh5 million labeled as a “voluntary payment” and another Ksh13 million said to be a reimbursement for house allowance.
The Nyamira probe adds to a worrying trend. In August, the EACC revealed that nine sitting governors were under investigation over graft-related offenses. Commission chairperson David Oginde described the situation as “alarming,” warning that corruption in devolved units continues to undermine the promise of devolution.
Earlier this year, similar early-morning raids were carried out in Kiambu, targeting Governor Kimani Wamatangi and his top officials. Weeks later, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya also found himself under scrutiny after investigators linked his county to alleged fictitious payments amounting to Ksh1.4 billion.
For many Kenyans, these recurring headlines about graft in the counties have become bitterly familiar stories of money meant to build, heal, and educate being siphoned away before projects even break ground.
As the EACC continues its investigations, residents of Nyamira are left waiting hoping this time, accountability will mean more than just another headline.