EACC arrests 11 suspects in alleged Ksh.85 million Eldama Ravine CDF fraud

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested 11 suspects linked to the alleged embezzlement of Ksh.85 million from the Eldama Ravine National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).

The suspects, who include NG-CDF committee members and sub-county officials, are accused of misappropriation and theft of public funds allocated to development projects in Eldama Ravine Constituency.

According to EACC, a probe was launched following complaints that between the 2018/2019 and 2020/2021 financial years, millions of shillings allocated to the constituency could not be accounted for, leading to the failure of several proposed projects.

The commission said Eldama Ravine Constituency received a total allocation of Ksh.369,052,479 from the NG-CDF Board during the three financial years under investigation.

However, detectives established that although only Ksh.11,506,173 had been budgeted for monitoring and evaluation activities, a total of Ksh.85,002,440 was allegedly withdrawn in cash from the NG-CDF account disguised as monitoring and evaluation expenditure.

Following completion of investigations, the EACC forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges against 13 suspects.

Those charged include Fund Account Manager Geofrey Koech, former Koibatek Sub-County Accountant Solomon Mwaura Kiratu, NG-CDF Committee Chairman Joseph Kibor Aiyabei, and former NG-CDF Committee Secretary Ann Mwihaki Mwangi.

Others are Dickson Kiplagat Chelimo, Peter Kiptanui, Evans Kiprono Keter, Stephen Kipyegon Bundotich, Evans Kipngetich Kiptoo, Musa Kiplagat Ngetich, Walter Zali Avihama, Kipruto Yegon and Anthony Cherogony Toroitich.

The anti-graft agency said 11 of the 13 suspects were arrested on Thursday and taken to the EACC South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru for processing ahead of arraignment.

The suspects are expected to face charges including abuse of office, conspiracy to commit an economic crime, fraudulent acquisition of public property, false accounting by a public officer, negligence of official duty and willful failure to comply with laws relating to the management of public funds.

EACC has also called on the two remaining suspects, Solomon Mwaura Kiratu and Ann Mwihaki Mwangi, to surrender themselves at any EACC office.