We Might Visit Him- EACC Eyes Governor James Orengo

UPDATE: Siaya Governor James Orengo has responded to EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak's statement on the anti-corruption watchdog keeping an eye on him over corruption-related charges, terming Mbarak's remarks as "reckless, irresponsible, unjustified and legally inexcusable."

"It was empty and contained nothing new, except outrageous hyperbole, falsehood and callous sadism. There have been arrests made in Siaya County as long as six (6) years ago.

"But no prosecutions. Complaints in regard thereto have been made many a time. apropos the Governor, we say bring it on without delay. WE ARE UNBWOGABLE," Orengo, through his press director Victor Marende, stated.

A day after commenting on the arrest of former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani and Marsabit Governor Mohamud Mohamed Ali by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Siaya Governor James Orengo is now on the anti-corruption watchdog's radar.

EACC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Twalib Mbarak, who was speaking on Thursday, April 25 at the sidelines of the 3rd EACC Anti Corruption Workshop for Media Practitioners at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, revealed that the county boss is being monitored over corruption-related charges.

According to Mbarak, the devolved unit is among the counties on the spot after the 3rd quarterly report of EACC released in 2023 placed Siaya County among the top 10 counties on the spot over embezzlement of public funds worth millions.

Investigations conducted by the Anti-Graft Body Showed that Ksh400 million was allegedly embezzled in Siaya County through claims of allowances for training and official public engagements, which were never held.

Defending the nature of the investigations, Mbarak noted that this was a culmination of months of probe into the former government officials which began while they were still in office, warning that EACC was also keeping a close watch on the current governors.

"The message we are passing to the public here is that we are overwhelmed with the number of cases that we are investigating...we did not start investigating Wa Iria and Yatani yesterday or six months ago, we started long ago, even when he was the CS for Treasury, we were still investigating him on issues when he was a governor. 

"Now, the things that are now ripe, we have all the evidence that when we lock on them and they will have a case to answer is when we arrest them. This is a message to the current governors that let them continue stealing but gradually we will get hold of them," he stated.

In his chilling message, Mbarak denounced the alleged political angle surrounding the arrests, terming it an excuse by politicians in claiming that the government of the day was intimidating and harassing them, comparing them to arrests on police officers which he noted were watered down by bloggers and social media users.

Mbarak hinted at the EACC keeping a keen eye on Governor Orengo and culminating in an arrest similar to EACC's raids and arrests on prominent figures.

"There is a famous saying that if you want to reach your destination, don’t engage with barking dogs because you’ll be busy kicking them and never reaching it so you ignore them, they make the noise and we arrest them.

"Yesterday, one of them, the lawyer there is a governor, he has come to our focus, it is our red flag so you can tell that lawyer cum governor that we may end up in his place very soon," he added.

12 employees of the Siaya County government have since been recommended to be charged with various offences of corruption and economic crimes, among them an Accountant at the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, who is alleged to have received Ksh18,980,830 to his account through irregular applications.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials are also investigating claims of fraudulent acquisition of public funds amounting to Ksh72 million in the installation of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) unit at Siaya Referral Hospital.

Orengo while speaking on the arrests clarified that Marsabit Governor Ali had not been arrested but had voluntarily presented himself to the commission to assist with the ongoing investigation. 

"The Governor is not in custody, he has not been charged, and he has not been questioned regarding any charges," Orengo stated. "There are ongoing investigations concerning matters in Marsabit County."

Orengo had yet to reply to Mbarak's comments by the time of publishing this story. 

Yatani, who previously served as Marsabit Governor, was arrested on Wednesday, April 24 as part of a corruption investigation following EACC's raid at his Karen house as early as 5 am where they carried away documents, a computer and two safes.

Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani. /FILE