EACC arrests 2 ex-Isiolo officers over Ksh.163.4M tender scam

This follows investigations conducted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) which linked suspects Giro Liban and Kenneth Turibu Maorwe to allegations of an irregular payment worth Ksh.163.4 million to various suppliers. 

The two suspects are said to have contracted Dabasiti Contractors and Suppliers Limited to supply food items and car hire services. 

Despite not having a procurement plan and a budget, the county government continued with the tender; a process which raised questions. 

Further, an audit carried out by the Auditor General and the Pending Bills Verification Task Force Committee (PBVC) established that the Ksh.163.4 million payment was classified as a pending bill. EACC revealed that the county government had managed to settle the bills. 

After linking the tender fraud to the former officials, EACC arrested the duo on Tuesday and taken to its Upper Eastern Regional Offices in Isiolo. 

The suspects were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Lucy Mutai and pleaded not guilty to eight counts of willful failure to comply with procurement laws and four counts of abuse of office. 

The magistrate released them on a Ksh.1 million cash bail each and a bond of a similar amount. The case will be mentioned on December 23, 2024, ahead of the hearing on February 26, 2025.