The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested 11 individuals for allegedly embezzling KSh 85 million from the Eldama Ravine National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF).
The suspects, picked from the NG-CDF Committee and sub-county offices, are accused of misappropriating and stealing public funds intended for constituency development projects.
According to the EACC, investigations began after complaints were filed regarding a loss of roughly KSh 85 million over the 2018/2019 and 2020/2021 fiscal years. The claimed loss apparently resulted in the inability to carry out many projected development projects in Eldama Ravine Constituency.
Investigations Reveal Irregular Cash Withdrawals
Investigations established that during the three financial years, the constituency received a total allocation of KSh 369,052,479 from the National Government Constituencies Development Fund Board.
However, although KSh 11,506,173 had been budgeted for Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) activities over the period, investigators found that KSh 85,002,440 was irregularly withdrawn in cash from the NG-CDF account under the guise of M&E expenditure.
Following the completion of investigations, the EACC forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges against 13 suspects linked to the alleged scheme.
Suspects Face Multiple Corruption Charges
The suspects face a number of charges, including abuse of office, conspiracy to commit an economic crime, fraudulent acquisition of public property, willful failure to comply with laws governing the management of public funds, false accounting by a public officer, and negligence of official duty.
According to the Commission, 11 of the 13 suspects were detained and transported to the EACC South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru for processing before being arraigned in court.
EACC noted that the suspects allegedly utilized the Monitoring and Evaluation budget line to allow improper cash withdrawals from the constituency account throughout the three fiscal years under investigation.
EACC Calls on Remaining Suspects to Surrender
The anti-graft agency noted that the investigations revealed a pattern of withdrawals that far exceeded the approved M&E allocations, raising concerns over the management and accountability of public funds within the constituency office.
The Commission further maintained that the alleged embezzlement deprived residents of Eldama Ravine of key development projects that had been planned and budgeted for during the affected financial years.
Meanwhile, EACC has called on the two remaining suspects who are yet to be arrested to surrender themselves at any EACC office.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to pursuing accountability in the management of public resources and warned public officials against engaging in corruption and economic crimes.
The case adds to ongoing efforts by the anti-corruption agency to investigate and prosecute misuse of public funds within government institutions and devolved development programmes across the country.
