West Pokot County officials arrested over Ksh.296M bursary theft

 The arrests are the result of investigations into allegations of corruption involving the theft of public funds intended to help low-income students in the county. 

According to EACC sources, misappropriation took place between the 2017/2018 and 2021/2022 fiscal years.

Those arrested include Ms. Mary Ngoriakes, the former Chief Officer of Education, and Mr. Mathew Arusio, the former County Director of Bursary. 

The two were detained early Monday and are currently being processed at the EACC North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret.

 Following their processing, they will be detained at Eldoret Central Police Station until their arraignment before the Eldoret Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

The investigation was launched after the EACC received a complaint alleging that senior officials in the West Pokot County Government planned and carried out a scheme to defraud the County Bursary, Education, and Infrastructure Fund. 

Initially, the officials were thought to have embezzled KES 212 million; however, further investigation revealed that the total stolen amount was KES 296 million. 

These funds had been designated to provide bursaries to students from low-income families in the county.

Investigators discovered that the County Bursary, Education Development, and Infrastructure Committee (CBC), which was supposed to oversee the distribution of bursary funds, was never properly established.

 Despite this, some county officials posed as CBC members and engaged in fraudulent activities, such as irregular cash withdrawals. 

These officials also fabricated minutes for meetings that never took place to justify their actions.

Following the conclusion of the investigation, the EACC presented a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who agreed with the commission's recommendations to charge four suspects with various offences. 

The charges include conspiracy to commit corruption, wilful failure to follow public fund management procedures, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and falsified accounting. 

The suspects are also charged with creating and signing unlawful contracts under the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2015, as well as making and uttering false documents under the Penal Code.

While two suspects are now in custody, the EACC has directed the remaining two individuals, Mr. Simon Kodomuk, former Chief Officer of Education, and Mr. Francil Tikol, former Assistant County Director of Bursary, to report to the EACC North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret by 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2024. 

The two are believed to have gone into hiding, and failure to surrender will result in additional legal action.

The EACC has reaffirmed its dedication to combating corruption, particularly in cases where public funds meant for vulnerable groups, such as students, are stolen. 

This case is seen as part of a larger crackdown on corruption in county governments, as the commission continues to work to recover stolen funds and hold public officials accountable for mismanagement.