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Six current and former governors risk losing properties valued at billions of shillings as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) targets assets believed to have been corruptly acquired by county bosses.

Sources at the EACC confided in People Daily that the agency was seeking to repossess properties owned by Murang’a governor Mwangi wa Iria, his Samburu counterpart Moses Lenolkulal, Migori governor Okoth Obado and two former Nairobi governors Mike Sonko and Evans Kidero. 

Last week, the EACC commenced recovery proceedings against former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu whom it accuses of corruptly amassing properties valued at Sh1.9 billion.

People Daily established that EACC detectives and lawyers are currently tying up to loose ends before commencing recovery proceeds for properties it believes were corruptly acquired by Sonko and Kidero.

In Kidero’s case, the properties in question are estimated to be worth approximately Sh9 billion while in Sonko’s case, the properties are valued at Sh1 billion.

Unexplained wealth

Sources also revealed that the commission had profiled over half of the sitting governors over unexplained wealth running into billions of shillings.

“The commission has charged Kidero and Sonko over unexplained wealth which EACC believes was amassed illicitly. The commission also has its eyes on about half of the governors because many of them have wealth which they cannot explain,” EACC said yesterday through spokesperson Yasin Amaro.

Lenolkulal and Obado who have also been charged with theft of public resources and Wa Iria are battling cases where EACC is demanding they forfeit assets which detectives believe were bought using stolen money.

EACC has already charged Garissa Governor Ali Korane with a Sh233 million corruption case. Others facing corruption charges are Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka Nithi) and Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) while Kirinyaga’s Anne Waiguru is facing possible arrest over  Sh10 million imprests for non-existent travels, and attempting to make questionable payments relating to surveying of South Ngariama land.

Kidero, facing a litany of corruption charges, is on the radar of EACC over accumulation of wealth which he is said to have invested in property in Nairobi, shares and cash in bank accounts while Sonko is being trailed over properties, which include a building at Upper Hill, Nairobi.

Kidero who is now a Homa Bay governor aspirant has already rushed to court seeking orders to stop EACC from searching and valuing his multi-million shilling properties as part of their investigations.

Impeached over graft

EACC alleges Sonko, who has been charged with stealing Sh357 million at City Hall before he was impeached, corruptly acquired the Upper Hill property located on Matumbato Road.

According to sale agreements, Sonko offered to buy the property from Kenya Railways Pension Scheme at Sh498.5 million, and he had already paid Sh144.6 million for the same.

EACC boss Twalib Mbarak says Waititu’s case was part of the commission’s strategy to recover public funds and assets from a number of governors suspected to have accumulated unexplained wealth during their tenure.

“The Commission has profiled most of the county governors and notes that a significant number have treated their tenure in office as an opportunity for self-enrichment. EACC warns all state and public officers who have embezzled public resources, especially during this transition period, that they will face the full force of the law,” Twalib said.

In the last one month alone, EACC has sought court orders to allow it to recover an estimated Sh3.3 billion said to have been looted by five public officials exploiting their respective positions to award tenders to their cronies and proxies.

EACC investigations established that Waititu disguised his private interest in tenders awarded to companies by the county government, and upon payment, contractors transferred proceeds to him, his wife Susan Wangari and their companies – Saika Two Estates Developers, Bienvenue Delta Hotel and Bins Management Services as kick-backs.

Family business

During that period, Waititu, his kin and companies associated with them amassed assets amounting to Sh1.93 billion, including Waititu  (Sh928m), his wife Sh282 million, Saika Two Estate Developers  (Sh906m) Bienvenue Delta Hotel  (Sh56m) and Bins Management Services  (Sh62m).

Waititu then acquired five luxury vehicles, 15 properties including in upmarket suburbs of Runda, Migaa and Thindigua, and three multi-storey buildings situated in Nairobi CBD. This include the Jamii Bora building  at Sh200 million, Delta Hotel  at Sh380 Million and Biashara shopping Mall at a cost of Sh110 million.

Waititu had in the past defended himself, saying he acquired the wealth genuinely.

“When I bought those houses, I was not even the governor.  But it’s just recently they (critics) have known that I own houses. There are so many things they do not know I own and next time they should ask me to take them around so that they can see my wealth. I will show them and some will commit suicide,” Waititu said.