Senior West Pokot County Officials Arrested For Embezzling Ksh. 296M Bursary
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested two former senior officials from the West Pokot County Government for embezzling Ksh.296 million in bursaries.
The arrests are the result of investigations into allegations of corruption, including the theft of public funds intended to assist low-income students in the county.
According to EACC sources, misappropriation occurred 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 being processed at the EACC North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret.
Following their processing, they will be held at Eldoret Central Police Station until their arraignment in 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 executed a scheme to defraud the County Bursary, Education, and Infrastructure Fund.
Initially, the officials were believed to have embezzled KES 212 million; however, further investigation revealed that the total stolen amount was KES 296 million.
These funds were set aside to provide bursaries to students from low-income families in the county.
ARREST OF SUSPECTS TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR THEFT OF BURSARY FUNDS AMOUNTING TO KES296 MILLION IN WEST POKOT COUNTY GOVERNMENT#TuangamizeUfisadiTuijengeKenya pic.twitter.com/bpbWMGE34h
— EACC (@EACCKenya) September 23, 2024
Investigators discovered that the County Bursary, Education Development, and Infrastructure Committee (CBC) was supposed to oversee the distribution of bursary funds, was never properly established.
Despite this, some county officials impersonated CBC members and committed fraud, such as making irregular cash withdrawals.
These officials also made up minutes for meetings that never happened in order to justify their actions.
Following the conclusion of the investigation, the EACC submitted 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, willful failure to comply with public fund management procedures, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and falsified accounting.
The suspects are also accused of creating and signing illegal contracts under the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2015, as well as fabricating and uttering false documents under the Penal Code.
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While two suspects are now in custody, the EACC has ordered the remaining two, 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 their failure to surrender will result in further legal action.
The EACC has reaffirmed its commitment to combating corruption, particularly when public funds designated for vulnerable groups, such as students, are stolen.
This case is considered 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.
Senior West Pokot County Officials Arrested For Embezzling Ksh. 296M Bursary
