DPP orders arrest of seven Homa Bay County officials over Ksh.26M loss

The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has issued warrants of arrests for seven Homa Bay County officials over the alleged loss of over Ksh.26million.

In a statement to the press, the DPP said the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission received complaints of alleged embezzlement of public funds in the 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 financial years.

Also Read: Drama in Homa Bay over Ksh.3M bribe allegations to pass county budget

“Following the report, the commission embarked on investigations which established that the County Assembly Clerk and Members of County Assembly together with suspects from the Finance and Procurement Department Homa Bay County misappropriated funds through fictitious and irregular procurement of hotel services and payment of MCAs allowances leading to the loss of Ksh.26,872,278,” the statement reads.

The seven suspects include Michael Owino Ooro, Isaac Ouso Nyandege, Judith Akinyi Omongi, Otieno Bob Kephas, Caroline Sang, Moses Odiwuor Amek and Edwin Omondo Okollo.

The suspects are to be arraigned in court and charged with various economic crimes.

“I have reviewed the file and I am satisfied that persons named herein actively participated in the perpetration of the alleged criminal activities and should therefore be charged and prosecuted,” DPP Noordin Haji said.

This comes a day after the MCAs engaged in heated arguments over an alleged Ksh.3 million bribe from the County Executive.

In dramatic scenes that almost turned chaotic, some nominated MCAs alleged that their elected counterparts were paid the money to influence the passing of the the 2018/2019 county budget.