EACC raids homes of Sports Ministry officials in KSh3.8 billion graft probe

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Wednesday, 5 November, arrested five people, including two senior officials from the State Department for Sports, in connection with the alleged embezzlement of KSh3.8 billion in public funds.

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The arrests followed early-morning raids on Wednesday at the officials’ homes and offices in Nairobi, Nanyuki, Machakos, Kiambu, and Nyeri, as part of a major anti-graft operation targeting a suspected network of government officers and private businesspersons.

According to the EACC, the ongoing investigation focuses on allegations of unlawful acquisition of public property and abuse of office involving top officials at the department during the 2020/2021 and 2025/2026 financial years.

Those arrested include Caroline Muthoni Kariuki, a Senior Assistant Commissioner of Sports, and David Muasya Musau, an accountant at the State Department for Sports.

Others are Otis Mutwiri Nturibi, Deputy Accountant General at the Ministry of ASALs and Regional Development; Dickson Kibunyi Mahia, Director of Turkenya Tours and Safaris Ltd and Afromerch Travel Kenya Ltd; and Maureen Wangui Wambugu, Director of Smart Flows Travel Ltd.

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In a statement, the EACC confirmed that the operation was carried out pursuant to court-issued search warrants, adding that the raids yielded crucial evidence, including large sums of cash and high-value assets.

“Today’s operation, which targeted residences and offices across several counties, has yielded valuable evidentiary material to support the ongoing investigation,” the commission said.

“Among the items recovered were cash totaling KSh5,460,000, government securities worth KSh597 million, 13 motor vehicles, 28 landed properties, and 37 bank accounts linked to the suspects.”

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Preliminary findings suggest that the suspects conspired to divert public funds through fraudulent procurement of travel and logistics services, using companies connected to officials within the Sports Department.

The alleged scheme involved collusion and manipulation of tendering processes that led to the loss of billions of shillings.

The recovered materials will now form part of the evidence to trace the flow of the funds and establish whether the seized assets were acquired using proceeds of corruption.

All suspects were later escorted to the EACC headquarters at Integrity Centre, where they recorded statements.

The agency said they will be arraigned once investigations are completed.

“Upon completion of the inquiry, the outcome will inform appropriate action, including prosecution of culpable persons and recovery of unexplained wealth or proceeds of corruption,” the EACC stated.