A multi-million shilling procurement investigation has led to the arrest of seven current and former senior Nakuru County Government officials together with a contractor, after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) uncovered what it says was a scheme that used family-linked companies to win county contracts worth more than Sh120 million.
The anti-graft agency said the arrests followed investigations into claims that an economist working for the county conducted business with her employer through companies owned by her husband, creating a conflict of interest while allegedly allowing the firms to secure lucrative public tenders. Investigators also claim that part of the money paid for the contracts was later transferred to senior county officials.
In a statement issued on Thursday, EACC identified the county employee at the centre of the investigation as Lorna Karamuta Mubichi, an Economist II with the County Government of Nakuru. According to the commission, she is accused of doing business with the county through companies owned by her husband while serving as a public officer.
The commission said three companies—Denken Building & Construction Limited, Murinchamba Investments Limited and Windcom Solutions Limited—were awarded a total of 29 county contracts between the 2020/2021 and 2024/2025 financial years. The firms are said to have received cumulative payments amounting to Sh120,042,417.
EACC said investigations established that the companies were owned and controlled by Kenneth Muriithi Ndubi, Mubichi's husband, either individually or together with his brother, Brian Mwenda Ndubi.
According to investigators, the companies relied on false documents to unlawfully secure the contracts. The commission further alleged that some of the money paid by the county was deposited into joint bank accounts held by Mubichi and her husband before part of it was traced to several senior county officials.
The commission said the arrangement placed Karamuta Mubichi in direct conflict with her role as a county employee.
"The Commission found that Ms. Mubichi's private financial interests in the companies owned by her husband were in direct conflict with her official duties as an employee of the County Government of Nakuru, contrary to the principles of integrity and accountability expected of public officers," the statement said.
EACC said it completed its investigations and forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved the prosecution of nine suspects.
The suspects are expected to face charges including conflict of interest, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime, engaging in corrupt procurement practices and wilful failure to comply with procurement laws.
Those arrested include Lorna Karamuta Mubichi, Kenneth Muriithi Ndubi, Chief Officer for Medical Services Daniel Ndung'u Wainaina, Chief Officer for Roads and Infrastructure Kennedy Mungai Barasa, Chief Officer for Water Timothy Kiogora Murithi, Nakuru City Manager Peter Gitau Thabanja and Solomon Sirma, the County Executive Committee Member for Finance in Baringo County and former Chief Officer for Health in Nakuru County.
The seven are expected to appear before the Nakuru Law Courts on July 31.
EACC also directed Brian Mwenda Ndubi, a director of Windcom Solutions Limited, and Josphat Kimemia, the Chief Officer for Youth Affairs and Sports, to surrender to its South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru or the nearest EACC office for processing after the commission said they were believed to have gone into hiding.