EACC arrests seven Nakuru officials, contractor over Sh120 million procurement scandal

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested seven current and former senior officials from the Nakuru County Government alongside a contractor over an alleged conflict of interest and procurement fraud involving county contracts worth more than Sh120 million.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the anti-graft agency said the arrests followed investigations into the award of 29 county contracts valued at Sh120,042,417 between the 2020/2021 and 2024/2025 financial years.

According to EACC, the investigations centred on Lorna Karamuta Mubichi, an Economist II at the Nakuru County Government, who is alleged to have used companies owned by her husband to conduct business with the county while serving as a public officer.

The Commission identified the firms as Denken Building & Construction Limited, Murinchamba Investments Limited and Windcom Solutions Limited, saying they received the contracts and were paid a cumulative Sh120,042,417.

Investigators established that the companies were owned and controlled by Ms Mubichi’s husband, Kenneth Muriithi Ndubi, either solely or jointly with his brother, Brian Mwenda Ndubi.

EACC further alleged that the companies used false documents to unlawfully secure tenders and that part of the proceeds was transferred into joint bank accounts held by Ms Mubichi and her husband.

The Commission also said it traced payments from the contract proceeds to several senior county officials, adding that Ms Mubichi’s financial interests in the companies directly conflicted with her official duties as a county employee.

Following completion of the investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved the prosecution of nine suspects on charges including conflict of interest, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, engaging in corrupt procurement practices, and wilful failure to comply with procurement laws.

Those arrested are:

1. Lorna Karamuta Mubichi, Economist II, County Government of Nakuru.
2. Kenneth Muriithi Ndubi, director of the three companies under investigation.
3. Daniel Ndung’u Wainaina, Chief Officer for Medical Services.
4. Kennedy Mungai Barasa, Chief Officer for Roads and Infrastructure.
5. Timothy Kiogora Murithi, Chief Officer for Water.
6. Peter Gitau Thabanja, City Manager, Nakuru City.
7. Solomon Sirma, Baringo County Executive Committee Member for Finance and former Nakuru Chief Officer for Health.

The suspects are expected to be arraigned before the Nakuru Law Courts on July 31, 2026.

EACC also directed Brian Mwenda Ndubi, a director of Windcom Solutions Limited, and Josphat Kimemia, Chief Officer for Youth Affairs and Sports, to report immediately to the Commission’s South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru or the nearest EACC office, saying they are believed to have gone into hiding.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public resources and ensuring accountability for corruption and economic crimes.

“EACC remains committed to safeguarding public resources and ensuring that all persons involved in corruption and economic crime are held accountable,” the Commission said. It also urged state agencies and public institutions to strengthen compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, through effective measures for declaring, managing and preventing conflicts of interest among public officers.