Six Bungoma MCAs under probe over Ksh.144M tender scam

Six Members of the Bungoma County Assembly are on the spot after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) launched an investigation into allegations of graft through multi-million tenders.

The MCAs are accused of multiple cases of conflict of interest linked to the award of tenders worth Ksh.144.2 million to 40 proxy companies and entities operated by their family members and close associates.

The commission, in a letter addressed to the County Secretary, sought original documents relating to the tender awards and payments to the companies under probe.

In a related letter received by the Assembly Clerk’s office on Wednesday, the anti-graft agency stated that it is investigating allegations of conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public funds by the MCAs.

The commission hence asked the Clerk to provide various documents concerning the MCAs’ service records to facilitate the ongoing investigation.

Some of the documents required by the anti-graft body include the MCAs’ pay slips, wealth declaration forms, and conflict of interest registers for the Bungoma County Assembly for the financial years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.

The development comes amid related efforts by the commission targeting senior county officials.

So far, three former governors, namely Ferdinand Waititu (Kiambu), Moses Lenolkulal (Samburu), and Daniel Waithaka (Nyandarua), have been convicted on graft-related offences.

Within the last quarter, the EACC conducted operations in Trans Nzoia, Kiambu, Turkana, and Bomet counties.