The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating a senior Tana River County Government officer who was discovered with unaccounted for Sh2.699 million in cash at the Malindi International Airport in Kilifi County.
According to Ahmed Khalid, the EACC officer in charge of the Upper Coast Region, Ms. Marim Buno, the county’s acting Finance Chief Officer, was discovered with the cash in her suitcase on Tuesday morning.
Mr. Khalid stated that they were curious as to how a public officer could amass such a large sum of money.
“I can confirm that we arrested Ms. Buno during airport security screening and that she is in our custody. We’re looking into how a public official could have such money in her possession “He stated.
Mr. Khalid stated that the officer was scheduled to fly to Nairobi from Malindi at 8.50 a.m.
Preliminary investigation revealed Ms Buno was in the company of other officers from Tana-River County including the Personal Assistant to Governor Dhado Godhana and others.
Ms Buno, according to Malindi sub-county police chief John Kemboi, was unable to explain the source of the cash.
“She was intercepted at the airport and during screening, she had money that she had not declared. “When we interrogated her, she said the money was for paying Tana River County employees who were in Nairobi for a meeting,” Mr Kemboi said.
He stated that the police then turned the case over to EACC for further investigation.
“We turned over the officer and the money to the EACC to see if she was telling the truth,” he explained.
