EACC widens Busia graft probe to Assembly Service Board
To facilitate the investigations, EACC has directed the Assembly to provide original documents, including the procurement plan and budget for 2023/2024, conflict-of-interest registers, tender records, evaluation reports, payment vouchers, IFMIS statements, and bank details of the winning bidder.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has widened its investigations in Busia County to include top officials of the County Assembly Service Board over allegations of abuse of office, irregular procurement, and theft of public funds.
In a letter addressed to the Clerk of the Assembly, the Commission indicated that Speaker Fredrick Wafula, who chairs the Service Board, and Clerk Caroline Omukitet, who serves as the board secretary, are among those under probe.
The matter revolves around the award of a tender to Optic Technologies for the supply, installation, and commissioning of an E-Parliament System during the 2023/2024 financial year.
“The Commission, pursuant to its constitutional and statutory mandate as set out in Article 252(1)(a) and (d) of the Constitution and Section 11 of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2011, is investigating allegations of abuse of office, procurement irregularities, and theft of public funds by members and senior staff of the County Assembly Service Board of Busia involving the tender for the supply, installation, and commissioning of an E-Parliament System awarded to Optic Technologies during the financial year 2023/2024,” the letter states.
To facilitate the investigations, EACC has directed the Assembly to provide original documents, including the procurement plan and budget for 2023/2024, conflict-of-interest registers, tender records, evaluation reports, payment vouchers, IFMIS statements, and bank details of the winning bidder.
The documents must be submitted to the Commission’s officers by September 2, 2025.
The move comes just weeks after detectives raided the homes and offices of several senior county officials in Busia over questionable tenders worth Sh1.4 billion.
During the August 6 operation, EACC arrested County Executive Committee members Topister Nyati Wanyama, Peter Odima, and Paul Olung’a, alongside Chief Officer for Finance Gypson Wafula and two directors, Leonard Omacha (Supply Chain Management) and Evans Wandera (Budget).
Meanwhile, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has intensified calls for accountability, writing to EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud to demand urgent investigations into the county’s financial management.
Omtatah cited an audit report showing that over Sh5.2 billion could not be accounted for in the 2022/2023 financial year.
“There is a need for your Commission to urgently and thoroughly investigate the unaccounted-for funds in order to safeguard public resources and hold those responsible to account,” Omtatah said.
He added: “The conduct of the said officials amounts to gross financial mismanagement and possible criminal offences under the Penal Code, the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, and other applicable laws.”
