Corruption scandal: Kitui chief officer, directors caught in KSh 17.4M scheme

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission arrested Kitui's Chief Officer for Agriculture and five company directors over procurement irregularities

- Gladys Mami Kivoto allegedly used close relatives to run five proxy firms that received KSh 14 million in county contracts over six financial years

- The DPP approved charges against nine suspects including conflict of interest, money laundering, and corrupt procurement practices

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested six people, including a senior Kitui county official and five company directors, over alleged corruption involving contracts worth KSh 17.4 million.

Kitui Chief Officer Accused of Using Proxy Companies

EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud identified the primary suspect as Gladys Mami Kivoto, the Kitui County Chief Officer in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Investigators allege she orchestrated a scheme in which relatives were placed in charge of five companies that subsequently secured county contracts, effectively allowing her to profit from public funds she was tasked with overseeing.

The five firms at the centre of the allegations are Shanel Construction Company Ltd, ECO Stone Company Limited, AZ Links Company Ltd, DTK Construction Company Ltd, and 4-Walls Company Ltd.

According to the EACC, these companies collectively received KSh 14 million in county payments between the 2018/2019 and 2024/2025 financial years.

Investigators established that three company directors shared close family ties with Kivoto.

"The investigations further revealed that Ms. Josephine Mwikali Wambua, Director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd; Makoma Wambua, Director of AZ Links Company Ltd; and Emmanuel Wambua, Director of ECO Stone Company Limited are close relatives of Ms. Kivoto," the Commission's statement read.

In addition, financial records pointed to direct money flows between Kivoto and the directors of DTK Construction Company Limited and 4-Walls Company Limited.

"Additionally, numerous financial transactions showed flows of funds between Ms. Kivoto and the directors of DTK Construction Company Limited and 4-Walls Company Limited," the statement added.

DPP Approves Charges Against Nine Suspects

Following the conclusion of investigations, the EACC forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges against nine individuals.

The charges include conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and engaging in corrupt procurement practices.

Six suspects were subsequently arrested: Kivoto, Josephine Mwikali Wambua, a suspect identified as Kilonzi, Mary Mueni Mbiti (Director, DTK Construction Company Ltd), Jonathan Kivondo Kieti (Director, DTK Construction Company Ltd), and Onesmus Munyao Nzioka (Director, ECO Stone Company Limited).

Three other suspects remain at large. The EACC has directed Makoma Wambua (Director, ECO Stone Company Ltd), Emmanuel Wambua, and Stella Nthenya Kioko (Directors at AZ Links Company Ltd) to present themselves at the Commission's Lower Eastern Regional Office in Machakos or the nearest EACC office for processing.

"The Commission remains committed to safeguarding public resources and ensuring that all persons involved in corruption and economic crimes are held accountable," the EACC said.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.