The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recommended prosecution of two top Kajiado County officials linked to Sh463 million graft that occurred between 2013 and 2024.
The alleged embezzlement of funds and conflict of interest were perpetrated through the award of tenders to four companies associated with one of the officials who served between November 2013 and October 2018.
The EACC wants Gladys Nasieku Tarayia, a former Legal Advisor to the office of the Governor of Kajiado County between November 2013 and October 2018 and Lekina Koinary Tutui, the current Chief Officer for Finance and Economic Planning, to be held culpable of conflict of interest and embezzlement of the taxpayers’ money.
"The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission recommends that the duo be held culpable of the Sh463million corruption. We recommend that they be charged with conflict of interest and embezzlement of public funds," reads part of a report sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga speaks during the launch of the “Mimi ni Mkenya” initiative at Serena Hotel in Nairobi on March 26, 2026.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
Also recommended for prosecution is Noah Tutui, the husband of Ms Tarayia, who is a director in two of the companies linked to the embezzlement of the funds and the directors of the other firms.
Mr Tutui is accused of colluding with his wife to sign and allow the payments to the companies when he worked as a Chief Officer for Roads and Public Works between December 2017 and January 2020, and as Chief Officer for Finance and Economic Planning, a position he holds to date.
Investigations by EACC sleuths established that four companies associated with the governor's legal advisor, namely: Citizen Suppliers and Contractors Limited, Top Spot Suppliers and Contractors Limited, Span Production Limited and Faircon General Equipment, traded with the Kajiado County government and were involved in the alleged embezzlement of funds.
According to the EACC, investigations established that the directors of the four companies were Ms Tarayia's husband and their children, revealing a conflict of interest in the award of tenders to the firms.
The directors of Faircon General Equipment are Ms Tarayia and Mr Tutui, whereas Top Spot Contractors Limited has Mrs Tarayia and her daughter, Cathrine Simayo Tarayia, as directors.
The directors of Citizen Suppliers and Contractors Limited and Span Products Limited were found to be Ms Tarayia's son, Eric Tarayia, and Mr Tutui and his daughter, Cathrine Simayo Tarayia.
"Mrs Tarayia failed to declare a conflict of interest while serving as the Legal Advisor to the former governor and caused the award of tenders to the four companies. Cumulatively, the four companies were unlawfully awarded Sh464million. During Gladys Tarayia's tenure, the four companies were awarded contracts totaling Sh121million. When Lekina Tutui took over office in October 2018, the four companies were awarded Sh357.52million,” reads the EACC report.
Ms Tarayia was appointed as a legal advisor to the office of the Governor Kajiado County on November 1, 2013. She resigned on October 30, 2018, whereas Mr Tutui was employed by the county government on October 19, 2018, as the Chief Officer for Roads and later transferred to Finance and Economic Planning, where he still works.
He is a nephew of Noah Tutui, Ms Tarayia's husband.
The companies under investigation were involved in the construction of markets, dams, boreholes, bridges and roads. They were also involved in the installation of street lights and high mast flood lights in various parts of the county.
Despite various other companies bidding, the four firms received an upper hand and were awarded the contracts, according to the EACC.
If the DPP approves the charges, the officials and the directors of the companies will face charges related to conflict of interest and embezzlement of millions of public funds.
