Governor Wamatangi arrested moments after his home, office were raided over graft claims
The operation also involved searches at the offices and homes of nine other senior county officials, who are under investigation for suspected embezzlement of public funds and conflicts of interest.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi was on Tuesday arrested moments after his home and office were raided over graft claims. In a video seen by Eastleigh Voice, the governor arrived at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) offices at the Integrity Centre to record a statement.
Detectives from the EACC had earlier raided his office and home in probe
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The operation also involved searches at the offices and homes of nine other senior county officials, who are under investigation for suspected embezzlement of public funds and conflicts of interest.
The officials are reportedly under investigation for the mismanagement of public funds amid growing calls from political leaders for accountability in the county’s administration.
The investigation follows serious allegations of corruption, particularly under the leadership of the current governor.
Political figures from the county, including Senator Karungo Wa Thang'wa, have been vocal in demanding a thorough probe into the financial operations of the county government.
In February 2024, Senator Thang'wa raised alarms regarding a sudden switch in the county’s payroll system, claiming that the governor had moved from an automated system to a manual one.
This, according to the senator, opened the door for fraudulent payments, with Sh390 million allegedly being stolen through ghost workers.
"The reversion to a manual payroll system, under the guise of technical issues, has created the perfect environment for theft. Suspected ghost workers have received over Sh390 million in fraudulent payments," Thang'wa stated on February 27, 2024.
Further allegations were made by Thang'wa, who claimed that at least 15 officers in the county had amassed over Sh500 million through the scheme, while over 200 individuals had been hired unlawfully under fraudulent contracts.
He called on the EACC to act urgently. “I urge the EACC to act swiftly and decisively in halting this plunder of public resources and bringing those responsible to justice,” the Senator said.
Following these revelations, other political leaders joined the call for investigations. Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichung’wah and Thika Town MP Alice Ng'ang'a, on November 27, 2024, demanded that both the EACC and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) step in to investigate the discrepancies highlighted in a report by the Auditor General.
The report uncovered significant gaps in the county's spending and raised questions about the transparency of its financial dealings.
MP Ng'ang'a accused the governor of embezzlement, while Ichung’wah pointed to the Auditor General’s findings, urging the relevant authorities to act.
“I want the DCI and EACC to read the auditor general's report and investigate what happened. Whether you are an MCA or a governor, your days are numbered, and in Kiambu County, the days have finally come. Let EACC and DCI take the report, do investigations, and arrest people,” Ichung’wah said.
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