EACC goes after KeRRA Accountant over Ksh38.6 million unexplained property
EACC goes after KeRRA Accountant over Ksh38.6 million unexplained property
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Esther Wanjiru Chege, an Assistant Accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), over allegations of conflict of interest and the unlawful acquisition of public property totaling over Ksh38 million.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 6, EACC said Chege was apprehended on Friday, May 2, alongside three other suspects.
The agency said the arrests followed the conclusion of investigations into irregular tender awards involving companies linked to her immediate family members.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Esther Wanjiru Chege, an Assistant Accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) – Kajiado, over allegations of conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property.
“Wanjiru Chege, alongside three other suspects, was taken into custody on May 2, 2025, following the conclusion of investigations into irregular tender awards involving companies closely linked to her immediate family members,” the statement read.
EACC claims that Chege used her position within KeRRA to influence the award of tenders to companies owned by her spouse and brother.
Among the implicated firms is Reswan Enterprises Limited whose bank accounts were operated by Wanjiru despite the company being registered under her brother and a businessman.
“Wanjiru is alleged to have used her position at KeRRA to influence the award of public contracts to companies owned by her spouse and brother. Key among them is Reswan Enterprises Limited, a company whose bank accounts were operated by Wanjiru herself, despite being registered in the name of her brother, James Chege Njoroge, and businessman James Ngigi Kamau,” the statement added.
According to EACC, additional firms named in the investigations are Rokays Enterprise Limited, Reswan Holdings Limited, and Kaydtech Enterprises Limited.
The agency said the companies were allegedly owned by Wanjiru’s husband, Robert Macharia Kimotho, and received multiple tenders during her tenure in various KeRRA regional offices.
Following the investigations, the case file was handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who concurred with EACC’s recommendations.
“Upon conclusion of investigations, the case file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who, upon review, concurred with the EACC’s recommendations to charge the suspects with various offences under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA),” the statement further read.
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The suspects were arraigned at the Kajiado Law Courts on Tuesday, and are facing charges including conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, and conspiracy to commit an offence of economic crime.
All four pleaded not guilty.
Additionally, EACC is pursuing a parallel civil suit to recover unexplained wealth amounting to Ksh38.6 million from Chege.
The agency insisted that her official salary could not account for the accumulation of such wealth.
“Besides the criminal charges against Wanjiru Chege, the Commission is pursuing the suspect in an ongoing unexplained wealth suit seeking to forfeit Ksh38,610,843.91 suspected to have been obtained as a result of corrupt conduct.”
“Wanjiru, whose net salary during the period under review increased from Ksh49,580 in January 2016 to Ksh116,640 by May 2022, was found to be in possession of assets that are disproportionate to her known legitimate sources of income,” the statement concluded.
The court is set to issue directions on bail and bond terms on Friday, May 9.
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