Kitui Chief Officer Kivoto, six company directors arrested over Sh17.5 million procurement scandal
A senior official in the Kitui County Government and six company directors were arrested over an alleged Sh17.5 million procurement scandal involving conflict of interest, abuse of office and corrupt tendering practices.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) said it arrested Kitui County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries Gladys Mami Kivoto alongside directors of companies allegedly used to secure county contracts through proxy arrangements.
According to the anti-graft agency, investigations established that Kivoto, while serving as Chief Officer and an Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) holder in the Departments of Irrigation and Agriculture and Fisheries, allegedly traded with the county government through five companies: Shanel Construction Company Ltd, ECO Stone Company Ltd, AZ Links Company Ltd, DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Ltd.
The contracts under investigation are valued at Sh17,484,484.49, with the companies having received a combined Sh14,115,916.30 from the county between the 2018/2019 and 2024/2025 financial years.
EACC said investigations revealed that Kivoto allegedly awarded contracts to, or approved payments for, the companies while serving in her official capacity.
The commission further alleged that some of the companies were linked to her close relatives. Investigators identified Josephine Mikali Wambua, a director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd, Makoma Wambua, a director of AZ Links Company Ltd, and Emmanuel Wambua, a director of ECO Stone Company Ltd, as close relatives of the chief officer.
Investigators also said financial analysis uncovered numerous transactions between Kivoto and the directors of DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Ltd, suggesting financial links between the public officer and the firms.
Following completion of investigations, the EACC forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved the prosecution of nine suspects.
The suspects face various charges, including conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime and engaging in corrupt procurement practices.
Those arrested on Thursday are Gladys Mami Kivoto, Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries, Josephine Mikali Wambua, Director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd, Roselyne Kyambi Kilonzi, Director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd, Mary Mueni Mbiti, Director of DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Ltd, Jonathan Kivondo Kieti, Director of DTK Construction Company Ltd and Onesmus Munyao Nzioka, Director of ECO Stone Company Ltd.
They are expected to be arraigned before the Kitui Law Courts later on Thursday.
The commission also directed three other suspects, whom it said are believed to have gone into hiding, to report immediately to its Lower Eastern Regional Office in Machakos or the nearest EACC office.
They are Makoma Wambua, Emmanuel Wambua and Stella Nthenya Kioko, all directors of companies linked to the investigation.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said the commission remains committed to protecting public resources and ensuring those involved in corruption and economic crimes are held accountable.
He also urged all state organs and public entities to strengthen compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, by putting in place effective systems for declaring, managing and preventing conflicts of interest among public officers.