The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested two former senior officials from the West Pokot County Government for allegedly embezzling Ksh.296 million meant for bursaries between the 2017/2018 and 2021/2022 fiscal years.

The arrested officials include Ms. Mary Ngoriakes, the former Chief Officer of Education, and Mr. Mathew Arusio, the former County Director of Bursary. They were detained on Monday and processed at the EACC North Rift Regional Offices in Eldoret.

PHOTO | COURTESY EACC 

They are expected to be arraigned before the Eldoret Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

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Investigations were launched following complaints of misappropriation of public funds by senior county officials who allegedly devised a scheme to defraud the County Bursary, Education, and Infrastructure Fund.

Initial reports indicated a loss of KES 212 million, and further investigations revealed that KES 296 million had been stolen.

The EACC found that the County Bursary, Education Development, and Infrastructure Committee (CBC), which was supposed to manage the distribution of bursary funds, was never officially constituted.


Some officials posed as CBC members and engaged in fraudulent activities, including irregular cash withdrawals and falsifying meeting minutes to justify the stolen funds.

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approved charges against four suspects, including conspiracy to commit corruption, abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public funds, and falsification of documents.

Two suspects are now in custody, and the remaining two, Mr. Simon Kodomuk and Mr. Francil Tikol have been instructed to report to the EACC or face further legal consequences.