Detectives attached to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Wednesday stormed the Nairobi, Kisii and Nyamira homes of Governor Amos Nyaribo at dawn, as part of a sweeping corruption investigation into alleged theft of hundreds of millions of shillings in public funds.
The raid sent shockwaves through the political circles of Nyamira County. The coordinated searches, carried out simultaneously also targeted senior officials of the Nyamira County Government suspected of masterminding irregular tenders, unauthorised payments, and possible abuse of office.
According to the EACC, the operation followed the execution of court-issued search warrants in relation to a contract worth Sh382 million for the construction of Nyamira County Government offices. The lucrative tender, awarded to Spentech Engineering Limited, is alleged to have been marred by procurement irregularities and questionable payments.
Investigators believe the company received payments far exceeding the value of the work completed, with preliminary reports indicating substantial losses to the county government and no corresponding value for money.
The EACC said the purpose of the raids was to recover crucial documents and digital evidence that could help establish how the controversial contract was awarded and executed.
“Our investigators are pursuing credible information suggesting that public funds were misappropriated through inflated payments and irregular authorisations,” said a senior EACC official familiar with the case.
Beyond the questionable Sh382 million tender, the anti-graft agency is also investigating allegations that Governor Nyaribo irregularly authorised payments to himself amounting to Sh18 million. The money, according to investigators, includes Sh5 million allegedly paid as ex gratia and a further Sh13 million claimed as a house allowance reimbursement. These transactions, which reportedly bypassed legal frameworks governing the remuneration of county executives, have raised fresh concerns over personal enrichment and possible abuse of office.
Several high-ranking officials have been drawn into the widening probe. Among those listed as persons of interest are Lameck Machuki Nyariki, the Director of Housing and Physical Planning; Peris Mose, the Director of Roads and former Head of Procurement; Asberth Maobe, the Chief Officer for Finance and Accounting Services; and Josphat Oruru, the Chief Officer for Roads, Transport and Public Works.
Investigators say these officials played key roles in authorising, processing, or supervising payments linked to the disputed project and other questionable transactions under review.
While the EACC insists the operation is purely investigative, the raid has ignited a storm of political reactions, with allies of Governor Nyaribo accusing the agency of political persecution.
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) National Chairperson Nyambega Gisesa, who also serves as the Rigoma Ward Member of County Assembly, condemned the raid as a deliberate attempt to silence political opponents.
“It’s a definable witch-hunt to silence the governor, who is a supporter of Dr Fred Matiang’i. Cheekily, the raid comes two days after Governor Nyaribo accompanied Dr Matiang’i to the home of Raila Odinga,” he said, adding that the timing of the raid was far from coincidental.
Mr Gisesa further alleged that the governor has been under sustained pressure to withdraw his political support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i or face arrest on what he termed as “trumped-up graft charges” and possible impeachment.
“It’s clear this is an intimidation tactic meant to weaken Dr Matiang’i’s allies in the Gusii region,” he said, arguing that the timing of the EACC’s actions suggested ulterior political motives ahead of the 2027 general election.
Governor Nyaribo, the leader of the United Progressive Alliance, has long been associated with Dr Matiang’i’s political camp. His party was widely perceived as aligned with the former Interior CS until recently, when Matiang’i announced plans to run for the presidency under the Jubilee Party ticket.
