The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has denied claims that it has delayed the recovery of Sh43 million that was looted in Kilifi County, in 2016.
In a statement on Wednesday, EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak insisted that what the media reported on the matter was inaccurate.
"The execution of EACC’s statutory mandate should not be construed to infer interference with any remedial action initiated by the County Government of Kilifi to recover that which it lost through corruption," he said.
Mbarak added, "No clarification was sought from EACC before publication."
The anti-graft body CEO noted that the EACC is only discharging its lawful mandate and there are other investigations being conducted in connection with the County Government of Kilifi.
On Monday, Governor Amason Kingi who appeared before the Senate County Public Accounts and Investments Committee protested that the EACC had stifled the county’s effort to recover the cash from unscrupulous companies that had conspired with fraudsters to siphon cash.
"We filed civil proceedings and managed to get a judgment, but before we could be issued with a decree, EACC challenged the decision saying we did not have legal standing to recover the monies stolen," Kingi said.
According to the 2018-19 audit report, Kilifi lost Sh43.24 million through online transfer from a recurrent bank account to fictitious individuals who had not been contracted by the county, under unclear circumstances.
In 2016, crooks are said to have gained access to the county’s bank accounts after they manipulated the electronic money transfer system – Integrated Financial Management System.
They reportedly stole passwords for 10 officials and used them to access the system where they transferred the cash from the county’s account at the Central Bank of Kenya.
The county’s internal auditor flagged out the fraud.
The county reported the matter to the anti-graft agency which immediately launched investigations, leading to arrest and arraignment of suspects.
