Four senior Taita Taveta officials arrested over stealing Sh7 million

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four senior officials from Taita Taveta County over the alleged embezzlement of more than Sh7 million, reportedly under the pretence of organising World War I commemoration events.

Among those arrested are the Economic Advisor to the Governor, a former County Secretary, and two Chief Officers.

The arrests, which took place on Tuesday, follow investigations by the EACC. The officials are currently being escorted to the EACC Lower Coast Regional Offices in Mombasa for further action.

The arrests come in the wake of serious concerns regarding the misuse of public funds by the county leadership.

In its fourth quarterly report, the EACC exposed a taxpayer-funded trip to Zanzibar by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), which was termed as a "bonding and merry-making" event.

The report highlighted that the expenses for this trip, which exceeded Sh7 million, were reportedly exaggerated. Some MCAs were overpaid, while others received allowances despite not travelling.

Senior county officials were also accused of embezzling over Sh4 million in November 2022 during celebrations purportedly meant to mark World War I.

The Commission called for immediate action to hold the officials accountable and recover the funds.

"Besides the prosecution of suspects, EACC will pursue recovery of the lost funds," the Commission said.

In 2023, Governor Andrew Mwadime of Taita Taveta County placed four senior officials on compulsory leave due to financial irregularities. Despite this, County Assembly Speaker Wisdom Mwamburi stated that the Assembly would continue its investigations into the alleged mismanagement.

On March 1, 2023, Kaloleni County Assembly member Azhar Din sought an explanation from the county’s tourism committee regarding the use of funds during the World War I event. He asked for a detailed breakdown of the expenditures, reimbursements, and the names of officials involved. Din also wanted clarity on the event’s economic benefits to the residents.

"The Assembly has sought to ascertain the status of expenditure on the said event following public outcry over waste and misappropriation of public funds," Speaker Mwamburi said.

The Assembly’s Committee on Tourism, chaired by MCA Lilian Mwangoi, released its findings on July 18, 2023. The report revealed that a few individuals abused their power for personal gain during the planning and execution of the event, resulting in the mismanagement of the allocated funds.

The Committee noted that the relevant county department failed to take a leadership role, leaving the Economic Advisor to the Governor to spearhead the event, which led to financial mismanagement.

"Minutes show individuals attending meetings within and outside the county who were not members of the committee tasked with spearheading the WWI activities, defeating the purpose of forming the committee," the report stated.

Mwangoi added that there was no approved work plan or scope of work to support the activities that took place. Furthermore, the procurement of goods and services, conducted in cash, through Mpesa, and through bank transfers, violated the Public Procurement and Disposal Act of 2015 and its 2020 Regulations, which limit procurement to a maximum threshold of Sh50,000.

The Committee also noted that the four officers sent on compulsory leave were directly involved in various meetings and played a significant role in influencing decisions related to the World War I event.

"The County suffered financial loss amounting to Sh4,048,337, with no value for money achieved. Public financial procedures were deliberately violated by those involved in executing the event," the report noted.

The Committee raised concerns over cases of forgery and misappropriation of public funds, citing receipts and invoices that appeared falsified to justify expenditures.

"Consequently, the validity and authenticity of the expenditure amounting to Sh4,048,337 for the WWI event is in doubt," read the report.

The Committee recommended the immediate suspension of the four officers involved and called on the EACC to prosecute those found culpable in accordance with the law. Additionally, they urged that the implicated officials be stripped of their responsibilities by the appointing authority.

The report also highlighted that the involvement of the governor’s advisors in the planning and execution of the event was irregular and not aligned with the county's administrative structures.