lowereas
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya over allegations of embezzling Ksh.1.4 billion in county funds, sending shockwaves across the political landscape.
According to sources within the EACC, the governor was apprehended early Monday morning following months of investigations into irregular procurement processes, suspicious payments, and misuse of public funds within the county government. The alleged embezzlement reportedly took place over the last two fiscal years.
Governor Natembeya, a former Regional Commissioner and a first-term county chief, was taken into custody at his residence in Kitale and is currently being held at Integrity Centre in Nairobi for questioning. The EACC confirmed that the arrest is part of a wider operation targeting senior county officials believed to have played a role in the scheme.
“The Commission has gathered sufficient evidence indicating gross mismanagement of public funds, including fictitious projects, inflated tenders, and kickbacks amounting to Ksh.1.4 billion,” said an EACC official who requested anonymity.
The arrest marks one of the highest profile cases involving a sitting governor in recent times. It also raises concerns over the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms at the county level, with citizens calling for more transparency and accountability in the management of devolved funds.
Governor Natembeya has yet to issue an official statement, but his legal team has dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated,” vowing to challenge the arrest in court.
Meanwhile, the Council of Governors has called for due process to be followed, urging the EACC to conduct the probe impartially and without political interference.
More details are expected to emerge as investigations continue and formal charges are prepared.
