Eight former Tana River County officials arrested over Ksh.9M fraudulent tender

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Thursday evening arrested eight former Tana River County government officials, over the irregular awarding of a tender worth Ksh.9 million.

The suspects include former County Chief Officer for Public Service Fatuma Zahra, former Principal Supply Chain Management Officer Abashora Swaleh Salad, Building Inspector with the Department of Public Works Ali Dhidha Hussein and former Senior Supply Chain Management Officer Issa Funani Bere.

Others are Supply Chain Management Officers Mohamed Natse and Kevin Simiyu Wafula, Casual Inspector with the Department of Public Works Fatuma Napasha Hussein-Electro, and a director with Al-Karim Agencies, one of the companies contracted to fence the wildlife offices and staff quarters in Hola town.

Six of the suspects were arrested in Malindi and detained overnight at the Malindi Police Station from where they were transported under heavy security to Hola. The remaining two suspects were arrested in Lamu County.

The suspects, who are among 14 individuals implicated in the case, are scheduled to be arraigned at the Hola Chief Magistrate Court on Friday.  

They will be charged with five offenses, namely: engaging in a project without prior planning, fraudulent practices in procurement, forgery, conspiracy to commit an offense of corruption and willful failure to comply with procurement laws.

Confirming the arrests, EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi explained that the EACC’s Upper Coast regional office conducted an operation in Tana River and Lamu Counties after uncovering irregularities related to the award of a tender to Al-Karim General Construction Company.

He added that the Commission is pursuing the remaining six suspects, comprising one Senior Supply Chain Management Officer and five directors of Al-Karim General Construction Company.

Ngumbi likewise urged them to surrender themselves to relevant authorities.