The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission detectives have arrested three Homa Bay county government officials on allegations of irregularly awarding tenders.
The three include a cashier at the county finance department, an officer at the procurement department and a former chief officer for Roads.
Kepha Rombe, Mary Agong and her husband Chris Agong who hold the three positions respectively, were arrested on Monday night in Homa Bay town.
The anti-graft agency accused them of awarding the county government tenders to their own companies.
Homa Bay county Directorate of Criminal Investigations boss Daniel Wachira said the three officers were arrested by anti-graft sleuths in their homes.
“I can confirm the three persons were arrested in Homa Bay over corruption allegations but the case is being handled by EACC in Kisii,” Wachira said.
The three are expected to record statements at the EACC South Nyanza regional office in Kisii before they are arraigned.
On Tuesday morning, an EACC officer confirmed that the three officers were in their custody.
He said they took them to Kisii for interrogation over the claim before they are taken to court.
The officer who sought anonymity revealed that the three are accused of doing business with the county government by awarding tenders to their own companies against the law.
“They perpetuate corruption by doing business with the county government. They hide behind other people as owners of the companies,” one of the EACC officers said.
According to EACC detectives, they are still looking for four officials in the county government who are hiding after they heard information about the arrests.
The arrests come soon after the office of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) listed Homa Bay as a top county in lack of openness in awarding tenders.
The Homa Bay government was ranked bottom with 15 per cent.
Three months ago, Chris Agong and two other officials were charged in a Homa Bay court for stealing two transportation containers worth Sh700,000 that belonged to a company in Mombasa.
He denied charges and was released on a Sh500,000 bond. The containers were later found in Kisumu county.
