Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested the Nyamira County Assembly Deputy Clerk over alleged procurement irregularities linked to the construction of an office block at the assembly.
The suspect, Leonard Kevin Nyamasege, who also serves as the Director of Finance and Accounts, was arrested on Tuesday over claims that he irregularly awarded the construction tender to Jetta Builders Ltd, even though the company was not the lowest evaluated bidder.
According to EACC, investigations established that the unlawful award conferred an undue financial benefit of Ksh.30,187,396 to the contractor.
“Investigations established that the unlawful award conferred an undue financial benefit of KSh 30,187,396 to the contractor,” the commission stated.
Following the conclusion of investigations, EACC forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved the prosecution of Nyamasege alongside five other suspects. The six are set to face charges including abuse of office, willful failure to comply with the law relating to the management of public funds, and negligence of official duty.
Nyamasege was arraigned before Nyamira Law Courts Principal Magistrate Christabel Agutu but did not take plea. His lawyer informed the court that he had obtained orders from the High Court in Kisumu staying his client’s arrest and arraignment, pending the hearing and determination of a petition filed before that court. EACC said the orders had not been served on the commission at the time of the arrest.
The case will be mentioned on July 28, 2026, for further directions.
This is the second arrest in the matter in under a month. On June 3, 2026, EACC apprehended Nyamira County Assembly Clerk Duke Simeon Onyari in connection with the same investigation. Onyari was later released on a cash bail of Ksh.400,000 or an alternative bond of Ksh.1 million with a surety of the same amount.
The arrests form part of a wider crackdown on procurement malpractice within the Nyamira County Assembly, with EACC confirming that it is actively pursuing the remaining suspects implicated in the scandal.
The case adds to a growing list of corruption-related arrests targeting county assembly officials across the country, as anti-graft agencies intensify scrutiny of public procurement processes and the management of taxpayer-funded projects.
Residents and governance watchdogs have welcomed the arrests, with many calling for stiffer penalties to deter public officials from abusing procurement procedures meant to safeguard public resources.
