By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, July 30, 2026 - The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested seven current and former officials of the Nakuru County Government alongside a private contractor in connection with an alleged procurement fraud scheme involving more than KSh120 million.
The arrests follow months of investigations into tenders awarded between the 2020/2021 and 2024/2025 financial years, during which investigators uncovered what they described as a sophisticated network of conflict of interest, money laundering and irregular procurement practices.
At the centre of the investigations is Lorna Karamuta Mubichi, an economist employed by the county government, whom investigators accuse of using companies owned by her husband to secure contracts from the county administration while serving as a public officer.
According to the EACC, three companies, Denken Building and Construction Limited, Murinchamba Investments Limited and Windcom Solutions Limited, collectively received 29 contracts worth approximately KSh120,042,417.
Investigators allege that some of the funds were transferred into bank accounts jointly operated by Mubichi and her husband, while other payments are believed to have found their way to senior county officials.
In a statement, the anti-graft agency said the investigation established that the arrangement constituted a direct conflict of interest because the county official allegedly exercised influence over decisions that benefited a close family member.
Those arrested include:
- Lorna Karamuta Mubichi, an economist with the Nakuru County Government;
- Kenneth Muriithi Ndubi, director of the companies under investigation;
- Daniel Ndung'u Wainaina, Chief Officer for Medical Services;
- Kennedy Mungai Barasa, Chief Officer for Roads and Infrastructure;
- Timothy Kiogora Murithi, Chief Officer for Water;
- Peter Gitau Thabanja, Nakuru City Manager; and
- Solomon Sirma, a former chief officer in Nakuru who currently serves in Baringo County.
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The EACC has also directed two additional suspects believed to be in hiding to surrender to investigators.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has already approved charges against nine individuals, paving the way for court proceedings. The suspects are expected to face charges ranging from conflict of interest and abuse of office to money laundering, unlawful acquisition of public property and violations of procurement regulations.
The scandal once again places the spotlight on procurement processes within county governments, which have repeatedly come under scrutiny from anti-corruption agencies and auditors. Public procurement remains one of the sectors most vulnerable to fraud because of the enormous sums of money involved and the wide discretion exercised by public officials.
The latest arrests also highlight the increasingly aggressive approach adopted by the EACC in pursuing corruption cases involving county governments, particularly those linked to public procurement and the misuse of public funds.
As the case moves to court, investigators are expected to intensify efforts to recover assets believed to have been acquired using proceeds from the alleged scheme.