EACC to audit Taita Taveta government’s ‘overnight millionaires’

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is set to conduct a lifestyle audit on all Taita Taveta County government workers to establish how they turned into millionaires shortly after being employed.

The commission on Monday officially launched a two-week Corruption Risk Assessment exercise in the county to find out whether there have been unethical practices in the management of public funds.

Speaking when she visited Taita Taveta Governor Granton Samboja in his office, EACC vice chairperson Sophia Lepuchirit said that most of the county government workers have acquired millions in a very short period of time.

Lepuchirit said the commission will move with speed to investigate all county staffers, adding that the auditor general’s report which implicated many counties in misuse of public funds will be implemented to the letter.

She said the anti-graft commission would look at what the employees currently own compared to their salaries and investigate whether it is possible to own a fleet of lorries and houses with the salaries one is getting.

Governor Samboja echoed the commissioner’s sentiments adding that the county has lost millions of shillings through unscrupulous revenue officials.

Samboja said his government will collaborate with other stakeholders to establish a robust mechanism geared towards fighting corruption. County Assembly speaker Meshak Maghanga and other county officials attended the meeting.