Twalib Mbarak, the CEO of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), has disclosed several prominent cases that the State agency is pursuing in its anti-graft efforts.
The tough-talking head of the EACC warned senior government officials in the nation who are embezzling public funds that they will eventually be caught and punished in an exclusive interview with Citizen TV.
Mbarak revealed that he is currently focused on several high-profile cases, one of which concerns former Cabinet Secretary for Tourism Najib Balala and concerns improper procurement and payment of Ksh 8.5 billion for the proposed Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo.
He emphasized the seriousness of the graft case. He reiterated that, following their sensational arrest in December of last year, the commission is itching to detain Balala and his suspected accomplices once more.
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"The amount of money the college was allocated was about Ksh.2 billion but ended up being about Ksh.8 billion. If you go to that sight, it is an unfortunate story. You have a huge college under construction, but it is stuck," he said.
"This case has got two phases. Case one is about the consultancy, and there is the construction part of it, which we are yet to finish the file, and there will be a second case coming on the same matter, and it will hit on the same people. This is one of the sad stories of this country where a big grand project has stalled because of corruption."
Mubarak disclosed that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had received files and cases pertaining to the alleged misappropriation of millions of dollars at the National Museums of Kenya and the Lake Turkana Wind Power project.
He emphasized that the commission attempted to detain the former head of the National Museum, Mzalendo Kibunjia, due to money lost through ghost workers.
"We have perfect files that are with the DPP where, for instance, we have a case of the National Museums of Kenya where the former head Mzalendo Kibunja and his group are accused of misusing millions of shillings through fictitious ghost workers," he said.
"We have a file on the Turkana Wind Power where billions were lost and another file on about Ksh.400 million lost elsewhere."
Mbarak also disclosed that the EACC is keeping an eye on the evolving lifestyles of current Cabinet members. She said that specific Cabinet and Principal Secretaries have seen abrupt and unexplained changes in their personal lives, raising concerns for the anti-corruption watchdog.
He acknowledged that the battle against corruption is not for the weak, but he nonetheless conveyed faith in the commission's ability to uphold public honor.
