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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has tightened its grip on suspected procurement fraud in county governments after arresting Nyamira County Assembly Deputy Clerk and Director of Finance and Accounts, Leonard Kevin Nyamasege, over a controversial multi-million-shilling tender award.
Nyamasege was apprehended following investigations into the irregular procurement of a contractor for the construction of an office block at the Nyamira County Assembly. Detectives allege that the tender was unlawfully awarded to Jetta Builders Ltd despite the firm not emerging as the lowest evaluated bidder—raising red flags over due process and value for money.
According to the EACC, the irregular award resulted in an unjustified financial advantage of KSh30,187,396 to the contractor, a figure now at the center of a widening corruption probe targeting senior county officials.
The anti-graft agency confirmed that upon concluding investigations, it forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who subsequently approved charges against Nyamasege and five other suspects. The accused face a raft of offences, including abuse of office, willful failure to comply with procurement laws governing public funds, and negligence of official duty.
Nyamasege was presented before Senior Principal Magistrate Hon. Christabel Agutu at the Nyamira Law Courts. However, the anticipated plea-taking was halted after the defence revealed the existence of High Court orders issued in Kisumu, temporarily suspending the arrest and arraignment pending the hearing of a constitutional petition. The EACC indicated the orders had not been formally served at the time of the court appearance.
The case is now scheduled for mention on July 28, 2026, when further directions are expected.
This latest arrest follows the earlier apprehension of Nyamira County Assembly Clerk Duke Simeon Onyari on June 3, 2026, in connection with the same procurement saga—signaling an escalating crackdown on alleged financial misconduct within the county assembly.
The EACC has reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing all individuals implicated in corruption and economic crimes, warning that accountability in the management of public resources remains non-negotiable.
As investigations intensify, the Nyamira case underscores growing scrutiny over procurement practices in devolved units, where billions of shillings in public funds continue to be exposed to potential abuse.
