EACC Arrests Garissa MCA, Two Former County Officials Over Sh 51.4 Million Fraudulent Payments
Kenya’s anti-corruption war has intensified after the EACC arrests Garissa MCA Abdi Ibrahim Daar alongside two former county officials over alleged fraudulent payments totaling Sh 51.4 million.
The arrests, carried out by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, have sent shockwaves across Garissa County, adding to a growing list of high-profile cases targeting misuse of public funds at the devolved level.
Three Arrested in Sh 51.4 Million Corruption Probe
Those apprehended include Abdi Ibrahim Daar, the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Balambala Ward, Mohamud Dubow Korane, former Director of Accounting Services at the Garissa County Government, and Yussuf Bethe Ali, a former Senior Principal Economist at the county.
The suspects were arrested on Sunday and are scheduled to be arraigned before the Garissa Law Courts on Monday for plea-taking.
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According to the charge sheet, the trio is accused of conspiring to commit corruption by facilitating fraudulent transfers from the Garissa County Government to Qorjarey Enterprise and General Supplies Limited for goods and services that were neither procured nor supplied.
Charges Under the Anti-Corruption Law
The charges include conspiracy to commit corruption contrary to Section 47A(3) read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (Cap 65), fraudulent acquisition of public property, abuse of office by approving or raising payments improperly, and forgery and uttering false documents.
Investigators allege that the fraudulent transactions occurred between April and June 2022. The payments reportedly covered emergency food items, office furniture, and water trucking services — all of which were allegedly never delivered.
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Korane is said to have approved payments ranging from Sh 4.8 million to Sh 14.5 million to Qorjarey Enterprise for unprocured goods. Meanwhile, Ali allegedly raised invoices within the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) to facilitate the questionable transfers.
Daar, prosecutors claim, not only authorized the fraudulent payments but also created and presented false documents, including letters of acceptance for contracts, to mislead both the county government and financial institutions.
Joint Prosecution by EACC and ODPP
The case will be prosecuted by the EACC in conjunction with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions at the Garissa Law Courts.
The suspects are expected to enter pleas, after which the court will determine whether they will be granted bail or remanded in custody pending trial.
Part of Wider Anti-Corruption Crackdown
This case adds to several recent operations undertaken by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission aimed at safeguarding public funds and strengthening accountability within county governments.
Over the past few months, the commission has intensified investigations into alleged procurement irregularities and IFMIS-related fraud schemes across various counties.
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As the legal process begins, all eyes will be on the Garissa Law Courts to see how the case unfolds — and whether it sets a new precedent in the fight against county-level corruption.
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EACC Arrests Garissa MCA, Two Former County Officials Over Sh 51.4 Million Fraudulent Payments
