The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four former senior officials of Nyamira County over allegations of irregularly hiring 56 staff members in the Department of Gender, Youth, Culture, and Social Services. The suspects, who are in custody at Kisii Central Police Station awaiting arraignment, include former County Executive Committee Member Peter Omwanza Ogwara, former County Public Service Board Commissioner Beatrice Mokeira Siribah, former Principal Culture Officer Chadwick Maranga Sangara, and former Assistant Director of Administration Geoffrey Ogeto Michira.
According to the Commission, investigations revealed that the appointments were conducted through a process tainted by corruption, nepotism, and clannism, violating public service regulations. The arrests form part of EACC’s broader efforts to curb misuse of public funds across counties, where governors and senior officials have frequently been implicated in financial irregularities. The agency’s 2024 quarterly report indicated that 51 corruption-related cases were filed, with 47 forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for prosecution, highlighting the persistent challenge of accountability at the county level.
The arrests have drawn widespread attention from civil society groups and local residents, who view the action as a critical step toward enforcing integrity in county administration. Legal proceedings are set to commence shortly, and the outcome could set a precedent for holding county officials accountable for mismanagement of public resources. EACC emphasized that its mandate includes not only prosecuting corruption cases but also ensuring transparency and adherence to constitutional principles of fairness and public service ethics.