I have never recorded a statement with EACC - Oparanya

Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary nominee Wycliffe Oparanya claims that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) never asked him to make a statement about charges of money laundering and abuse of office while he was in Kakamega County.

Speaking on Sunday before the National Assembly Appointments Committee, he also stated that he has never been involved in corruption.

Oparanya, on the other hand, stated that it was not until August 2023 that he became aware that the Twalib Mbarak-led Commission was looking for him in connection with the demonstrations.

“Nobody has come to me to write a statement. I have never been given a chance to tell my story. I worked for 10 years yet nobody came to my office for any corruption case until August 2023 when were doing 'maandamano'” he said.

The former Kakamega Governor further stated that during his 10-year term as Governor and five years as Minister, the anti-graft body never called for any alleged corruption scandal.

He also mentioned that no audit report had identified him as a person of interest.

"I've been a minister for five years and a governor for ten years. "No report identified me as a corrupt individual," Oparanya stated.

Oparanya, the former ODM deputy party leader, explained the events of August 2023, saying police arrived at his house when they were demonstrating.

According to Oparanya, the officers who came to his residence questioned him about his affiliation with ODM party leader Raila Odinga, whether he had guns in his home, and where he received the money to fund demonstrations.

He stated that they identified themselves as EACC officers, with some clothed in civilian clothing.

"Nobody has come to take a statement from me. I don't know what I'm being accused of because I'm also seeing them in the papers," Oparanya added.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Saturday clarified that it has not barred any Cabinet Secretary nominees from seeking appointment.

The statement comes in response to reports suggesting that the EACC failed to clear Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary nominee Wycliffe Oparanya due to integrity issues.

The Commission stated that it merely provided information on each candidate’s integrity status without passing judgment, leaving the decision to the vetting committee.

“The Commission clarifies that in its role in the integrity vetting of candidates for public office under the current law, the Commission cannot clear or bar anyone from holding any office in the land,” the Commission said.

The EACC claimed that Oparanya received some irregular benefits amounting to Sh56.7 million between 2013 and 2022 when he served as the governor of Kakamega County.

For instance, the EACC claims that a Contractor – Sesela Resources Ltd, had on July 28, 2021, irregularly deposited Sh10 million to the account of Oparanya’s lawyer, Marende & Nyaundi Advocates.

The EACC also wanted DPP to investigate how Sh 2 million was sent to Winbrics Logistics Limited, a company associated with Oparanya.

On May 22, 2022, the EACC claimed that Sabema International Limited paid Sh1 million in kickbacks to Oparanya’s personal bank account.