- In such cases, EACC said, state officials have used their spouses, children, siblings, parents and other relatives as conduits to loot public funds.
- "This turns the spotlight on the family unit, as the foundation of values in society," the Commission noted.
Image: FILE
The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission now say they are dealing with an "emerging family factor in the looting of public funds".
The Commission said it had recommended for prosecution a former governor and one of his wives in its latest quarterly report.
"A former governor and one of his wives, and a serving Member of Parliament and his two daughters are among the suspects recommended for prosecution in the latest EACC Quarterly Report published in the Kenya Gazette on Friday," it posted on its X account on Saturday.
It added that the two graft cases are in addition to several others under its investigation or those reviewed by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution or in court.
In such cases, EACC said, state officials have used their spouses, children, siblings, parents and other relatives as conduits to loot public funds.
"This turns the spotlight on the family unit, as the foundation of values in society," the Commission noted.
The EACC quarterly report shows that the commission forwarded 27 files to the ODPP where it had recommended the prosecution of suspects in 24 of the files "including current and former high-ranking State officials".
The report gazetted Friday by EACC chairperson David Oginde and CEO Twalib Mbarak shows that the commission completed investigations on 27 files during the period under review and forwarded them to the ODPP’s office.
The report shows that the commission recommended the prosecution of suspects in 24 of the files “including current and former high-ranking State officials”.
The report says the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) accepted recommendations to prosecute cases in seven of the 24 files.
It includes the prosecution of a former governor into allegations of conflict of interest and receipt of irregular benefits of Sh56,740,325.
The county government awarded various tenders to contractors associated with the former governor of the said county during the financial year 2013/2014 to 2021/2022,” the report says in part.
The inquiry file was first submitted to the DPP on October 16, 2023, with recommendations to charge several suspects including the former governor.
EACC said the DPP returned the file on the case on November 16, 2023, with recommendations for further investigations.
The Commission conducted further investigations and resubmitted the file to DPP on December 4, 2023.
"On December 18, 2023, the DPP returned the file and concurred with the Commission’s recommendations for prosecution," the commission said.
“It was established that the companies were awarded 60 contracts after which the companies received payments totalling Sh2,251,012,597.28. It was further established that from each of the six companies, the former governor received a benefit directly and indirectly through companies associated with him.”