Caption
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Kitui County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries Gladys Mami Kivoto and five company directors over alleged conflict of interest and procurement irregularities involving county contracts worth Sh17.48 million.
The arrests follow investigations into allegations that Kivoto used proxy companies linked to her and her associates to secure county contracts between the 2018/2019 and 2024/2025 financial years while serving as a senior county official.
According to the EACC, Kivoto allegedly traded with the County Government of Kitui through five companies, Shanel Construction Company Ltd, ECO Stone Company Limited, AZ Links Company Ltd, DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Ltd.
"The firms are said to have received a combined Sh14.1 million in payments from the county during the period under investigation," EACC stated.
Investigators established that Kivoto, who served as Chief Officer and Authorised Officer (AIE Holder) in the Departments of Irrigation and later Agriculture and Fisheries, allegedly awarded contracts to the firms and approved payments despite having personal interests in the businesses.
The anti-graft agency further said investigations revealed that Josephine Mwikali 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 Limited, are close relatives of Kivoto.
Financial records also allegedly showed money transfers between Kivoto and directors of DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Ltd.