Man charged for vandalizing Ksh.176M hotel recovered by EACC in Kisumu

A man has been arrested and arraigned for damaging a hotel in Kisumu that was previously recovered by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The accused, Geoffrey Oguna Ajwang, appeared before Maseno Law Courts where he was charged with malicious damage to Hydeout Rivera Hotel, a government property situated in Seme West Location, Kisumu County, that is valued at Ksh.176 million.

According to a police report, Ajwang, who is a relative of the initial owner of the hotel, Michael Auka Ajwang, vandalised the property that was under the custody of EACC by stealing 10 wooden door frames and 2 aluminium door frames worth Ksh.60,000.

During the hearing on Wednesday, the accused faced two counts of malicious damage to property and stealing contrary to the law.

“On May 26, 2025 in Konywera Village, East Reru Sub-location, West Seme Location in Seme Sub-County within Kisumu County, within the Republic of Kenya otherwise than in the course of stealing, dishonestly retained 10 wooden door frames and 2 aluminum door frames knowing or having reasons to believe that they were stolen goods,” read the charge sheet.

He was released on a Ksh.120,000 bond or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.60,000.

Ajwang was arrested by Kisumu police on Monday following a tip-off from the public to EACC that the property was being damaged.

Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Commission submitted the resultant report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who initiated a charge for the suspect.

EACC recovered the said property in August 2023 from Michael Auka Ajwang, who is a former Procurement Officer at Nairobi City County, accused of illicit enrichment.

The Commission had sued Michael seeking to recover unexplained wealth amounting to Ksh.537 million, which led to the accused surrendering the hotel and other properties to the government.

The Commission was in the process of formalising the handing over of the hotel to the government when it was vandalised.