Kitui chief officer arrested over alleged KSh 17 million procurement irregularities
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission EACC has arrested Kitui's Chief Officer for Agriculture, Gladys Mami Kivoto, and five company directors in connection with alleged procurement irregularities totaling KSh 17.4 million. Kivoto is accused of using close relatives to operate five proxy firms鈥擲hanel Construction Company Ltd, ECO Stone Company Limited, AZ Links Company Ltd, DTK Construction Company Ltd, and 4-Walls Company Ltd鈥攖hat secured KSh 14 million in county contracts between the 2018/2019 and 2024/2025 financial years. Investigations revealed that three company directors, Josephine Mwikali Wambua, Makoma Wambua, and Emmanuel Wambua, are close relatives of Kivoto. Additionally, financial transactions showed money flows between Kivoto and the directors of DTK Construction Company Limited and 4-Walls Company Limited. The Director of Public Prosecutions DPP has approved charges against nine individuals, including conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, and corrupt procurement practices. Six suspects have been arrested, while three others, Makoma Wambua, Emmanuel Wambua, and Stella Nthenya Kioko, have been directed to present themselves to the EACC.
