Senate Questions EACC For Former Governor Without Charges

Senate Questions EACC For Arresting Governor Without Charges

The Senate intends to summon the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to explain why it arrests governors, but the cases take too long to resolve.

The County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) expressed concern that EACC’s investigations into cases against governors, the majority of which featured charges of corruption, are taking far too long.

According to the MPs, some of them collapsed despite having consumed public resources.

This was revealed after Marsabit Governor Mohamed Ali went before the team on Monday, June 9, and was unable to explain why he was imprisoned more than a year ago.

The governor stated that EACC did not explain the reasons for his detention in March 2024 and that they are still investigating the county head.

Marsabit Governor Mohamud M. Ali appears before the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) at Parliament on June 9, 2025, to address the status of implementation of unresolved issues raised in the Auditor General’s Report on the Financial Statements for FY 2023/2024 and… pic.twitter.com/wbMWS22SEI
— The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) June 9, 2025

The EACC invaded the Marsabit County headquarters and arrested the governor on suspicions of corruption. To date, however, no resolution has been reached.

The governor said that he had not been arraigned or told why he was arrested that day.

He further stated that the office raid was unjust, unprocedural, and out of line with best procedures.

CPAC members criticized EACC for what they called inaction, accusing it of undermining the team’s role as a watchdog body.

Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, who chairs the committee, questioned the governor about why he was arrested and the progress of the investigations.

He also asked how long it would take to complete the probes, suggesting that the Commission had politicized the fight against corruption.

“We ask because our credibility as a committee is being threatened by a lack of action from the EACC,” Senator Kajwang stated.

“They announce arrests for optics, and we would like the EACC to tame its appetite for shouting,” he added, noting that it should only focus on cases that it can win.

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Other committee members, including Senators Edwin Sifuna (Nairobi), Enock Wambua (Kitui), and Okongo Omogeni (Nyamira), expressed similar worries about how long it takes EACC to investigate complaints.

Finally, the committee invited the commission’s leadership to attend and explain the difficulties they are experiencing, which appear to be impeding investigations.

“After more than one year, it is only fair that the EACC settles this matter and lets the world know whether the Governor is corrupt,” said Senator Kajwang.

Former CS Yatani, Governor Ali Arrested

Detectives From The Ethics And Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Have Arrested Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani And Marsabit Governor Mohamud Mohamed Ali. pic.twitter.com/Xgtrq9AZfD
— LOOK UP TV (@lookuptv) April 24, 2024