Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has claimed that EACC officers and police who raided his residence invaded his privacy including that of his of children.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is investing Wamatangi and eight County officials in connection with alleged embezzlement of County funds.
The suspects are County Secretary Peter Ndegwa, Nancy Njeri Kirumba (CEC Finance), Salome Muthoni Wainaina (CEC Lands), William Kinyanjui Kimani (Chief Officer Finance) and Phyillis Wanjiru Muiruri, Director in charge of Supply Chain.
Also listed were Henry Mburu Waweru (Director, Revenue), Paul Kibe Wangari (Clerical Officer) and Bernard Kabaiku Theuri, Director of M/s Filtronic International.
EACC boss Abdi Mohamud said this was part of ongoing probe into alleged financial and procurement malpractices within the county touching on conflict of interest and abuse of office.
This, the Commission said included awarding of a contract for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, training, commissioning and support services of an enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
“The contract valued at Sh230 million, was awarded to M/s Filtronic International Limited during the 2022/23 financial year,” Mohamud stated.
“Allegations that the county government officials engaged in trading with the county and received payments totalling to Sh1.5 billion through irregular procurement and fictitious supplies,” he added.
The commission said during the operation, they recovered evidentiary materials including seizure of Sh12 million and USD 13,000 in cash from the residence of Governors Wamatangi.
“Upon conclusion of the investigations, the findings will guide the appropriate course of action which may include prosecution of any individuals found culpable,” the commission added in part.
The governor explained that the detectives arrived at his residence around 4am in the morning and demanded that he be allowed to go in and carry out a search.
He added the the officers intruded the privacy of his children and wife who had just woken up.
“This intimidation is purely political, there is no reason why more than 50 police officers can wake up to my home and another 200 deployed to the offices of county ministers, and they are targeting only those who perform,” said Wamatangi.
He added, “The people who elected us are not the police or the EACC. Recently a senior person in the government called me and swore that by the time I finish my term, they would have soiled my name.”
However, Wamatangi did not give details on the millions of shillings the EACC claimed to have recovered from his house.
