Kajiado County is among 16 counties currently under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations of massive financial irregularities, including embezzlement, conflict of interest, and irregular tendering. The probe, which has reached an advanced stage, targets both current and former county officials suspected of misusing public funds and awarding contracts to close associates.
According to EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud, the commission has obtained over 1,500 warrants to search bank accounts, mobile money records, properties, and vehicles linked to suspects across the affected counties. In Kajiado, investigators are focusing on questionable procurement deals and unexplained expenditures flagged in recent audit reports.
The Auditor-General’s 2023/24 report revealed widespread financial mismanagement across several counties, including Sh339.5 million in bank account discrepancies, Sh93.3 million spent on undocumented training, and Sh22.4 million on foreign trips. Kajiado, alongside Nairobi, Migori, and West Pokot, reportedly lost more than Sh6.3 billion through dubious payments and irregular tenders.
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Sources within the commission indicate that investigations in Marsabit and Garissa are complete, with files now awaiting review by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Meanwhile, senators have called for deeper scrutiny into inflated pending bills and unexplained spending patterns in several counties.
The spotlight on Kajiado comes after recent revelations that some rogue county officials were allegedly operating parallel revenue accounts, collecting funds outside official systems and diverting them for personal gain. The EACC is now working to trace these transactions and recover lost public resources.
Other counties on the commission’s watchlist include Nakuru, Nairobi, Migori, Vihiga, West Pokot, Marsabit, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Homa Bay, Wajir, Samburu, Makueni, Kakamega, Siaya, and Trans Nzoia.
By Masaki Enock
