Ex-Kakamega Governor Oparanya to face prosecution in Sh56.7m graft case

Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya is facing prosecution over alleged graft charges amounting to Sh2.2 billion, as recommended by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

In its fourth quarterly report published on Friday, EACC noted that it has received a green light from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge Oparanya who is also the deputy party leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

In the report, Oparanya is also accused of conflict of interest by irregularly benefitting from Sh56.7 million from the County government during the financial year 2013/2014 to 2021/2022 through companies associated with him.

The Commission said it initiated investigations based on complaints alleging that contracts were awarded to companies linked to Oparanya, who then received kickbacks through proxies.

Investigations revealed that six companies were awarded a total of 60 contracts, receiving payments amounting to Sh2.2 billion.

It added that the former governor benefited directly and indirectly from each of these companies.

In addition, a portion of the received funds was allegedly used to purchase a property. The former governor is then said to have leased the property back to the Kakamega County Government for Sh9.2 million.

Conflict of interest

The said land was established to be Oparanya’s property and yet again he was being paid by the county government in a case of conflict of interest. Investigations established that he irregularly received a benefit of Sh56.7 million in total from the county.

“It was also established that the former Governor entered into a tenancy agreement with the Kakamega County Government for the lease of land reference number Marama/Shianda/442 and the buildings erected thereon for Sh9,200,000,” reads the report.

A report compiled on October 12, 2023, was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), recommending charges against several suspects, including Oparanya, his spouse, county officials, some company directors, and a lawyer involved in a property transaction.

The charges included conspiracy to commit corruption, conflict of interest, abuse of office, and money laundering.

After further investigations, the report was resubmitted to the DPP on December 4, 2023. On December 18, 2023, the DPP concurred with the commission's recommendations for prosecution.

In November last year, EACC obtained orders to freeze assets worth Sh28.9 million belonging to Oparanya over his alleged involvement in a Sh1.3 billion graft probe. The anti-graft body was given the asset freeze nod by the High Court pending the completion of investigations.

In the orders, Justice Esther Maina prohibited Oparanya, private companies associated with him, their agents, servants or any other persons from withdrawing, transferring, or in any other way dealing with the frozen amount for the next six months.