The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Thursday launched sweeping raids on the homes and offices of ten individuals, including top Turkana County officials, in a probe into a procurement fraud scheme valued at over Ksh.600 million.
At the heart of the investigation is Michael Eregae Ekidor, Turkana’s County Executive Committee (CEC) Member for Finance. The EACC alleges that Ekidor and other officials awarded inflated and fictitious contracts to companies they were linked to during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 financial years.
According to the Commission, the suspects “abused their positions of trust to embezzle public funds through collusion, bribery, procurement fraud, and payment for non-existent goods and services.”
During Thursday’s operation, investigators recovered Ksh.6.5 million in cash from a vehicle owned by Ekidor, intensifying scrutiny over the source of his assets.
Other implicated officials include Chief Officers Peter Lomurukai (Urban Management) and Mark Achila Ekiru (Roads and Transport), Director of Procurement Samson Nakito, Senior Accountant Lillian Alaper Ateyo, and Cleaning Supervisor Annah Narot Longoli.
The EACC is also investigating John Tioko Ekal—believed to be a spouse to one of the officials—alongside Abenyo Amathwel Etiir, a county security warden whose bank accounts, holding Ksh.180 million, have been frozen. Businessmen William Erex Aminit and Nangiro Edung Ichor are also under the spotlight.
All suspects have recorded statements. The EACC says further legal action will follow upon conclusion of the inquiry. The raids are part of ongoing efforts to clamp down on rampant corruption in devolved units.
