EACC Arrests MP Paul Abuor Over Ksh122M Corruption Case

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has confirmed the arrest of Rongo Member of Parliament Paul Abuor who is under investigation for alleged conflict of interest and theft of public funds.

The anti-graft body revealed in a statement on Thursday, January 23 that it conducted a successful investigative operation targeting the MP, linked to the award of tenders worth Ksh122 million by the Rongo National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) to companies associated with him during the Financial Year (FY) 2017/2018 to 2024/2025.

Preliminary investigations have established that the suspect, together with his accomplice, registered a private company by the name Aztec Infrastructure Kenya Ltd as directors.

"Using this company, the suspect trades with Rongo Constituency NG-CDF through the construction of classrooms and drilling of boreholes and has so far received Ksh122 million. He is the sole signatory to the Company Bank Account," revealed EACC.

It was further revealed that the MP, through his Personal Assistant registered another company by the name of Jebset Holdings Limited.

Through this company, the Personal Assistant was discovered to have been paid Ksh19.6 million by Rongo Constituency NG-CDF. The Personal Assistant is the sole Director and signatory to the company bank account.

EACC outlined that the Rongo Constituency matter is part of broader investigations by the Commission into numerous reports of embezzlement of public funds under the NG-CDF, National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), Women Enterprise Fund and other devolved funds.

"The embezzlement is perpetrated largely through conflict of interest, multi-million payments for services not rendered and payroll fraud involving ghost workers. Following the operation, the suspect was arrested and brought to EACC Headquarters at Integrity Centre where he is currently recording a statement," added EACC.

The Commission went on to urge state officers to desist from abusing their positions of trust and authority to the detriment of the very citizens they were elected or appointed to serve.

The arrest comes as EACC is leaving no stone unturned in its war against corruption, targeting Kenyans of all cadres and all kinds of offices. On Wednesday, January 22, EACC launched investigations on corruption allegations in the judiciary weeks after under pressure Chief Justice Martha Koome requested the probe.

"We had a meeting with the Chief Justice. In that meeting, she raised the concern that she is receiving reports that some of her officers are taking bribes and therefore subverting justice. And so she, on her own initiative, called upon us to help her in this area," EACC Chairperson David Oginde stated. 

The EACC is probing three stations that have not been made public yet for suspected corrupt judiciary officials. 

"Our teams are already in these three stations, but we are looking more closely at the judiciary as a whole. So should we find anything, we take the necessary steps that need to be taken to bring these people to justice so that we combat corruption in the judiciary," he vowed.

EACC Chairperson David Oginde. /NAIROBI LAW MONTHLY