By Isaac Mutiso and Aclan Agesa, Kakamega
Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya was arrested by sleuths from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged embezzlement of over Sh1.3 billion.
Oparanya was arrested earlier today and taken for grilling at the Eacc headquarters.
Eacc in a statement said: “We wish to confirm that today, Wednesday, 23rd August 2023, the commission conducted a successful search on various targets as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of embezzlement of public funds,”
The commission said that the amount involved is over Sh1.3 billion from which they claimed was misappropriated during the reign of Mr Oparanya
The statement further read : “The former Governor was this morning brought to EACC Headquarters at Integrity Centre in Nairobi to clarify several issues and record a statement on the ongoing investigation,”
Abdi A. Mohamud, the Eacc Deputy Chief Executive Officer in the press release noted that they have been investigating several contractors who might have been working with the ex-governor to embezzle the said funds.
“Kakamega County investigation is part of numerous high-impact investigations into loss of public funds that the Commission is undertaking in various County Governments, which are at different stages,” said the Mohamud
He said that “ Upon conclusion, the investigation files will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further directions. The Commission may also file civil proceedings for recovery of public funds if investigations reveal to have been unlawfully acquired,”
He said that the Commission conducts its investigations independently, impartially, and professionally, and in accordance with its mandate as spelt under the law.
“The Commission urges leaders and the general public to allow it to discharge its mandate and to desist from politicizing and ethinicizing the work of independent offices, which remains a leading challenge in the fight against corruption,”.
