A senior Kitui County official has been arrested alongside five company directors after investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) linked them to alleged conflict of interest and irregular procurement involving county contracts worth more than Sh17.48 million.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the commission said Kitui County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries Gladys Mami Kivoto was arrested following investigations into claims that, while serving as a public officer, she traded with the county government through companies allegedly linked to her.
According to the EACC, investigations established that contracts worth Sh17,484,484.49 were allegedly awarded to companies associated with the chief officer, contrary to public procurement and anti-corruption laws.
The commission said the inquiry found that Kivoto conducted business with the county through five companies believed to have acted as proxy firms.
“ Gladys Mami Kivoto, a Chief Officer in the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, traded with the County through five proxy companies, namely Shanel Construction Company Ltd, ECO Stone Company Limited, AZ Links Company Ltd, DTK Construction Company Ltd, and 4-Walls Company Ltd.”
Investigators said the five companies “were cumulatively paid Sh14,115,916.30 by the County between the 2018/2019 and 2024/2025 Financial Years.”
The commission further alleged that while serving as Chief Officer and AIE holder in the Departments of Irrigation and Agriculture and Fisheries, Kivoto awarded contracts to the companies under investigation or approved payments made to them.
The investigations also uncovered alleged links between the chief officer and some of the directors behind the companies that received the contracts.
“The investigations further revealed that Josephine Mwikali Wambua, Director of Shanel Construction Company Ltd; Makoma Wambua, Director of AZ Links Company Ltd; and Emmanuel Wambua, Director of ECO Stone Company Limited are close relatives of Kivoto. Additionally, numerous financial transactions showed flows of funds between Kivoto and the directors of DTK Construction Company Limited and 4-Walls Company Limited.” EACC added.
Following the completion of investigations, the commission forwarded the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved the prosecution of nine suspects.
According to the EACC, the suspects are expected to face several charges, including conflict of interest, abuse of office, money laundering, acquisition of proceeds of crime and engaging in corrupt procurement practices.
Those arrested are Gladys Mami Kivoto, Josephine Mwikali Wambua, Roselyne Kyambi Kilonzi, Mary Mueni Mbiti, Jonathan Kivondo Kieti and Onesmus Munyao Nzioka. The six were expected to be arraigned before the Kitui Law Courts on Thursday afternoon.
The commission also directed three other suspects believed to have gone into hiding to report immediately to its Lower Eastern Regional Office in Machakos or the nearest EACC office. They were identified as Makoma Wambua, Emmanuel Wambua and Stella Nthenya Kioko.
The EACC said it remains committed to protecting public resources and ensuring accountability in corruption and economic crime cases. It also urged public institutions and state agencies to strengthen compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, through proper declaration, management and prevention of conflicts of interest involving public