EACC under fire for politically motivated raids in governors’ corruption cases
Senators slam EACC over delayed graft probes, say politically motivated raids in governors’ corruption cases undermine credibility.
Senators slam EACC over delayed graft probes, say politically motivated raids in governors’ corruption cases undermine credibility.
Senators have taken aim at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), accusing it of conducting politically motivated raids and dragging out investigations into corruption allegations against governors without offering clear resolutions.
The County Public Accounts Committee on Monday questioned why high-profile arrests of governors have not led to charges more than a year later.
Marsabit Governor Mohamed Ali, who appeared before the committee, said he is still waiting to be told why he was arrested and paraded publicly without any charges being brought forward.
“I am also waiting to know why the EACC did what they did to me,” the governor told the committee.
Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, who chairs the committee, warned that the anti-graft body risked losing credibility if it continued using publicity stunts instead of focusing on building strong cases.
“We ask because our credibility as a committee is being threatened by a lack of action from the EACC. They announce arrests for optics, and we would like the EACC to tame its appetite for shouting,” Kajwang said, noting the agency should only pursue cases it can win.
Governor Mohamed was arrested in March 2024 following a raid at the county offices over allegations of corruption involving billions of shillings.
The raid came just a week after he had appeared before the Senate committee. Since then, no charges have been filed.
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The committee also raised concerns over other cases involving governors George Natembeya (Trans Nzoia), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu), and Jeremiah Lomorukai (Turkana), whose homes were raided and documents taken, but with no clear progress reported.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna said the EACC’s failure to conclude investigations raises serious questions.
“It is very wrong to raid a private home, ransack it and arrest the owner, take him to EACC over alleged corruption allegations, and the matter drags on for several years without conclusion,” he said.
“We would like to see all the governors whose homes have been raided by EACC and taken for questioning charged and jailed if found guilty to serve as a lesson to others and not a political weapon to threaten critics, Sifuna added.
Nakuru Town West MP Samwel Arama condemned how elected leaders are arrested, calling it humiliating and reminiscent of one-party era tactics.
“This culture where EACC and DCI officers, when arresting leaders who are merely suspects before they are condemned, must stop, as it was only creating unnecessary tensions and animosity,” Arama said.
He cited the case of Governor Natembeya, describing the raid on his home as “intimidating, humiliating and harassing the governor politically”.
The Senate committee resolved to summon EACC officials to explain the long delays in investigations and whether political influence was affecting their work.
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