EACC Arrests Nyamira Clerk Over Ksh 30 Million Tender Irregularities

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has taken into custody Duke Simeon Onyari, the Clerk of Nyamira County Assembly, concerning suspected procurement anomalies in the construction of the county assembly office building. The commission claims these irregularities caused a financial loss exceeding Ksh 30 million to public funds. Following the arrest, Alfred Mwachugha, the South Nyanza Regional EACC Manager, stated that investigations showed the Nyamira County Assembly gave a construction contract to Jetta Builders Limited even though the company was not the lowest bidder, violating procurement laws and regulations. Mwachugha explained that the improper tender award provided an unfair advantage worth Ksh 30.817 million to the contracting firm. “The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission received reports concerning procurement irregularities in the tender award. Investigations confirmed that the Nyamira County Assembly recommended Jetta Builders Limited for the contract, despite them not being the lowest bidder,” Mwachugha stated. After completing investigations, the case file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which authorized charges against eight individuals connected to the project. The accused individuals consist of Nyamira County Assembly Clerk Duke Simeon Onyari; Deputy Clerk and Finance Director Leonard Kevin Nyamasege; Deputy Clerk and Legal Services Director David Nyarango Ombego; Monitoring and Evaluation Director Joyce Onyango; Roads and Public Works Chief Engineer Josphat Matini Oruru; and Infrastructure Officers Erick Onguti Ayuka and Simon Ondari Ogecha. Mwachugha mentioned that one suspect was apprehended and presented in court on March 19, 2026, in Nyamira Chief Magistrate’s Court Anti-Corruption Case No. E001 of 2026. He further indicated that Onyari had reportedly avoided arrest by securing court injunctions from multiple courts before being captured on Tuesday. “Today we successfully apprehended the clerk, who has been evading authorities. He has been attempting to circumvent the legal proceedings, but justice has ultimately prevailed,” Mwachugha remarked. The clerk is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday while the agency continues to track down five other suspects still at large. The EACC has called upon the remaining suspects to turn themselves in for processing and legal action.