By TONY MUSISI
An Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teacher in Turkana County is among eight county government officials and company directors being pursued by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering and dealing in proceeds of crime involving more than Sh92 million.
Three of the suspects arrested by EACC detectives are being held at Eldoret Police Station pending their arraignment.
They include Betty Emathe Asimit, a senior assistant community health officer with the Turkana County Government; Moses Ling’ole Apua, a director of Apuco Holding Group Limited; and Chosi Nick Nakucho, an employee of Mary’s Meals Kenya.
The three were arrested at their hideouts on Wednesday and Thursday in Turkana and Eldoret after allegedly going underground upon learning that they were being sought in connection with the offences.
EACC North Rift Regional Manager Kuntai Ole Tingisha confirmed the arrests, saying the investigation stemmed from allegations that some of the officials used companies owned by their associates to conduct business with the county government while serving as public officers.
Speaking to journalists at the EACC regional office in Eldoret, Tingisha said five other senior Turkana County Government officials and company directors linked to the alleged multimillion-shilling scandal were still at large.
Those on the anti-graft agency’s wanted list include Peter Apua, the Principal Finance Officer of the Turkana County Government; Christopher Imuron Apua, a director of Apuco Holding Group Limited; and Nicholas Korobe, a director of Natilila Company Limited.
Others are Julius Ayapan Adir, a clerical officer with the Turkana County Government, and Lilian Akiru Louruka, an ECDE teacher stationed at Katilile ECDE Centre.
“I am appealing to the said officials to immediately report to the nearest EACC offices for processing before we come for them in their respective hideouts,” Tingisha said.
According to Tingisha, investigations established that Louruka, who is also a director of Natilila Company Limited, allegedly used the firm to secure five contracts from the county government worth more than Sh30 million.
“Our investigations further established that funds paid to the two companies owned by Peter Ling’ole Apua and Lilian Louruka were withdrawn in cash, suspected to be proceeds of crime,” he said.
Tingisha said the investigations had been completed and the inquiry file forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved the prosecution of the eight suspects.
The suspects are expected to face charges relating to conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering and dealing in proceeds of crime.
The three arrested suspects are scheduled to be arraigned before the EACC court in Eldoret on Thursday at 10am.
