Monday, April 24, 2023 –The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission EACC has started arresting and charging contractors in Bungoma County who are believed to have been involved in fraudulent activities.
In a Monday April 24 report carried by Citizen Digital, the anti-fraud agency had already arrested four suspects as the investigation into multimillion procurement fraud in the County intensifies.
Homenews.co.ke has learnt that the three – Bramwel Maelo, Susan M’mboyi, and Wycliffe Makanga – all employees of the Bungoma County Government, were among the four suspects arrested early today, while the fourth, Sandra Soita Nasamabu, a Director of M/s Fastec General Supplies, was arrested in Mombasa and will be escorted to Bungoma to join her accomplices.
On arrest, the suspects were taken to the EACC Bungoma Regional Office for processing before being held at the Bungoma Police Station until their arraignment tomorrow on Tuesday.
The four are among seven persons in connection with the irregular awarding of a contract for the periodic maintenance of Bungoma’s Chebosi-Wanelopi-Kituni Road.
Three other suspects are still at large, including the Director of Fastec General Supplies, Wafula Wakoli Chesititi, George Bifan, and Bungoma county employee Eric Papa Makokha.
Fastec General Supplies Limited, a company with ties to former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, was awarded the sh. 5.7 million contract now under investigation.
The company is said to have backed out of the contentious contracts after learning that it was on the EACC radar over alleged payment of funds from county coffers for non-existent work.
Investigators believe Fastec General Supplies Limited used false documents to win the tender, and an audit of the company’s accounts revealed it lacked the financial capacity to carry out the work specified in the tender in paper.
