The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has charged six suspects, including four former Homa Bay County officials, over the irregular award of a Ksh348 million tender for the county assembly building. They were arraigned at the Kisii Chief Magistrates Court on January 20, 2026, and pleaded not guilty. The case centers on breaches of public procurement laws during the 2019/2020 financial year.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arraigned six suspects, including four former Homa Bay County officials, before the Kisii Chief Magistrates Court over the unlawful award of a Ksh348,927,840 tender for the construction of the Homa Bay County Assembly office block during the 2019/2020 financial year. The accused include the former Clerk of the Homa Bay County Assembly, a former Lands County Executive Committee (CEC) member in the Homa Bay County Government, a former Quantity Surveyor from the Ministry of Public Works who served as project manager, and two directors of a private company.
The suspects were arrested on Friday, January 16, 2026, and appeared in court on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Before Chief Magistrate Hon. A. M. Obura, all pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court granted them cash bail of KES 5 million or an alternative bond of KES 30 million with a surety of the same amount. The case is set for mention on Monday, February 2, 2026.
According to investigations by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the county assembly officials awarded the tender to a company linked to some county employees. They face charges of conflict of interest, abuse of office, breaches of Kenya's public procurement laws, and fraudulent acquisition of public property under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act of 2003. The EACC stated, "The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, arraigned six suspects before the Kisii Chief Magistrates Court in connection with the alleged irregular award of a multi-million-shilling tender for the construction of the Homa Bay County Assembly office block."
"Appearing before the Chief Magistrate, Hon. A. M. Obura, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them," it added. This case highlights ongoing challenges with corruption in county government procurement processes.