Former Nyamira officials arrested over irregular hiring of 56 workers freed on Ksh.200K cash bail

Four senior Nyamira County officials arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for irregular employment of 56 county workers have been arraigned.

The officials, two former and two current employees, appeared before Nyamira court Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochieng and denied all charges levelled against them.

Former Sports CEC Peter Ogwara and Beatrice Mokeirah Siribah, former vice chair of the Public Service Board, denied using their powers to illegally confer letters to 56 employees.

Others arrested in the Tuesday operation include Chadwick Maranga Sangara (former Principal Culture Officer) and Geoffrey Ogeto Michira (former Assistant Director Administration). 

Sangara also denied forging a law degree from the University of Nairobi.

The current director of the sports docket, who was then acting chief executive in the department, was accused of improperly conferring a benefit to 43 staff members to be employed in his department.

The court thus freed them on a bond of Ksh.500,000 or a cash bail of Ksh.200,000 each.

The allegations date back to between June and November 2016, during the administration of the late Governor John Nyagarama.

Five accomplices in the allegations did not appear in court, although their defense team alleged that they were privy to the case.