NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 30 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested seven current and former senior officials of the Nakuru County Government and a contractor over an alleged procurement fraud and conflict of interest involving county contracts worth more than Sh120 million.
EACC said investigations found that contracts were awarded between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 financial years to three companies allegedly linked to the husband of a county employee, raising concerns over integrity in public procurement.
The investigation began after allegations that Lorna Karamuta Mubichi, an Economist II at the Nakuru County Government, failed to declare her private interests while companies allegedly owned and controlled by her husband won county tenders.
According to EACC, Denken Building and Construction Limited, Murinchar Investments Limited and Windcom Solutions Limited received cumulative payments exceeding Sh120 million from the county during the period under review.
The Commission alleges that the companies were owned either solely or jointly by Kenneth Muriithi Ndubi, Ms. Mubichi’s husband, together with his brother Brian Mwenda Ndubi, and that false documents were used to secure the contracts.
Investigators further claim that part of the proceeds was transferred to joint bank accounts held by Ms. Mubichi and her husband, while additional payments were allegedly traced to several senior county officials.
“The Commission found that Mubichi’s private financial interests in the companies owned by her husband were in direct conflict with her official duties as an employee of the County Government of Nakuru,” EACC said.
“The conduct was contrary to the principles of integrity and accountability expected of public officers.”
Following completion of investigations, EACC forwarded the case file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved the prosecution of nine suspects on charges including conflict of interest, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime and procurement-related offences.
Those arrested include Peter Gitau Thabanja, City Manager of Nakuru City, and Solomon Sirma, Nakuru County Executive Committee Member for Finance and former Chief Officer for Health.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned before the Nakuru Law Courts on Friday, July 31.
EACC has also directed Brian Mwenda Ndubi, a director of Windcom Solutions Limited, and Josphat Kimemia, Chief Officer for Youth Affairs and Sports, to report to its South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru or the nearest EACC office, saying they are believed to have gone into hiding.
