By Dorothy Musyoka
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended two former senior officials from the West Pokot County Government over allegations of embezzling KES 296 million intended for bursaries.
The suspects, Ms. Mary Ngoriakes, former Chief Officer for Education, and Mr. Mathew Arusio, former County Director of Bursary, were arrested on Monday, 23rd September 2024, and are set to be arraigned before the Eldoret Anti-Corruption Court.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has today arrested two (2) out of four (4) suspects to be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court on corruption charges relating to theft of public funds amounting to Kes 296 million in the County Government of West Pokot during the period between financial years 2017/2018 and 2021/2022,” stated the EACC.
The arrests come as part of a wider investigation launched by the EACC following a complaint that senior officials in West Pokot had orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to divert funds from the County Bursary, Education, and Infrastructure Fund between the financial years 2017/2018 and 2021/2022. Initial investigations revealed that KES 212 million had been siphoned off.
However, further probing uncovered the full extent of the fraud, totaling KES 296 million.
The funds, which were supposed to support the education of needy students in the county, were allegedly misappropriated through irregular cash withdrawals and falsification of official documents.
“Investigations revealed that the County Bursary, Education Development and Infrastructure Committee (CBC) was never established but the members nevertheless assumed the role of CBC members. Further, the officials were involved in irregular cash withdrawals and prepared fake minutes for meetings that did not take place,” the Commission noted.
The EACC however issued directives to two additional suspects, Mr. Simon Kodomuk, former Chief Officer of Education, and Mr. Francis Tikol, former Assistant County Director of Bursary, who are currently in hiding, to report to the EACC North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret on Tuesday, 24th September 2024, at 8:00 am without fail.
The Commission has vowed to continue its efforts to hold accountable those involved in corruption and to ensure the recovery of stolen public funds.