Ex-Nyamira officials charged for illegally employing 56 county workers

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Friday arraigned seven suspects in connection with an eight-year-old case involving the illegal requisition and employment of 56 Nyamira County staff members.

They include former Nyamira County CEC Peter Ogwara, ex-Nyamira County Secretary Eric Onchana and former Vice Chairperson of the County Public Service Board Beatrice Siriba.

The remaining suspects are Ogeto Michira, who was the Acting Chief Officer in the department at the time, as well as Jadwick Sangara, Robert Mochache, and Peter Nyakundi. They were all presented before Chief Magistrate Bernard Ochieng.

They were charged with offences ranging from abuse of office to illegal requisition of employment and conferment of employment to forgery of academic certificates.

The fate of two other former employees linked to the case remains uncertain, as one is reportedly deceased.

Prosecution Counsel Vane Mochama informed the court that the accused officials misused their positions to unlawfully confer benefits upon 56 staff members.

"On diverse dates between June and November 2016, being the Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary to the County Service Board improperly used your offices to confer a benefit to 56 staff to with appointment to employment in the department of Gender, Youths, Sports and Cultural Services," the charges read in part.

All the suspects denied the charges and were released on a Ksh.500,000 bond or an alternative Ksh.200,000 cash bail each.

The case is set to return to court on March 20, 2025 for further directions.