NAIROBI, Kenya – Four former senior officials of Nyamira County have been arrested over allegations of irregularly recruiting 56 staff members in the Department of Gender, Youth, Culture, and Social Services.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) confirmed their detention at Kisii Central Police Station ahead of their court appearance on Tuesday, March 4.
The suspects include former County Executive Committee Member Peter Omwanza Ogwara, former County Public Service Board Commissioner Beatrice Mokeira Siribah, former Principal Culture Officer Chadwick Maranga Sangara, and former Assistant Director of Administration Geoffrey Ogeto Michira.
EACC investigations revealed that the hiring process was marred by corruption, nepotism, and clannism.
The arrests are part of the commission’s ongoing crackdown on graft in county governments, following revelations of widespread financial misconduct in the latest EACC quarterly report.
The report exposed systemic corruption in county administrations, including cases where officials and governors’ spouses were implicated in the misuse of billions in public funds.
In 2024 alone, EACC filed 51 cases, forwarding 47 to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for prosecution, while two were recommended for administrative action.