Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission have intensified investigations into Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo following claims of massive corruption involving Ksh382 million.
The operation, carried out in Nyamira, Kisii, and Nairobi counties, targeted both the governor and senior officials in his administration who are suspected of embezzling public funds through a fraudulent construction tender.
Officers stormed the governor’s home and offices early in the morning, seizing computers, flash drives, and financial records that may reveal how the tender was manipulated for personal gain.
The probe focuses on a construction project meant to establish a new Nyamira County Government office complex.
According to reports, the contract was awarded to a company accused of receiving large payments for incomplete and substandard work.
Investigators say the project was deliberately overpriced to create room for kickbacks and other irregular payments.
Sources close to the commission indicated that initial valuation reports reveal significant financial loss, with taxpayers receiving little to no value for the huge sums spent.
EACC officers are also investigating allegations that Governor Nyaribo personally benefited from the scheme.
Preliminary findings suggest that he received about Ksh18 million through questionable transactions.
These include a Ksh5 million “voluntary payment” and a Ksh13 million reimbursement labeled as a house allowance.
Both transactions were reportedly done without approval from the County Assembly and lacked legal backing, raising serious questions about misuse of office and conflict of interest.
The Wednesday raid extended beyond the governor’s residence to include key county offices handling procurement, accounting, and public works.
Investigators are said to have collected vital documents that could expose how funds were processed and who authorized the suspicious payments.
The EACC believes that fake invoices and forged progress reports were used to justify overpayments to the contractor, even though construction had stalled after only partial completion.
Insiders describe the case as a coordinated effort involving multiple departments to siphon money through inflated costs and falsified paperwork.
Governor Nyaribo now finds himself in the growing company of county leaders under EACC scrutiny. In recent months, the commission has launched similar operations against several governors accused of misusing public funds.
Earlier this year, raids targeted Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi over alleged misappropriation of county finances, while Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya faced questions about a Ksh1.4 billion procurement scandal.
EACC Chairperson David Oginde recently acknowledged that at least nine governors are currently under investigation, warning that corruption in counties has become a major threat to devolution.
Following the latest raid, several senior Nyamira County officials have been summoned for questioning.
Sources indicate that the EACC intends to forward its findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions once the evidence is compiled, paving the way for potential criminal charges. If prosecuted and convicted, Governor Nyaribo could face removal from office and a long-term ban from public service.
Meanwhile, residents of Nyamira have expressed anger over the allegations, saying corruption has robbed the county of essential services. Many cite poor roads, delayed salaries, and stalled development projects as proof that county money is not reaching the people.
Some locals have called for the governor to step aside to allow investigations to continue without interference.
The unfolding case has reignited debate over accountability in devolved units and the role of oversight institutions in curbing economic crimes.
Analysts argue that such cases highlight deep-rooted weaknesses in public finance management. They insist that holding powerful county officials accountable is the only way to restore trust in devolution.
