By The Weekly Vision Reporter
Nyamira County Governor Amos Nyaribo is under intense scrutiny from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over allegations of corruption in the awarding and execution of a major public works contract.
The probe, which escalated dramatically on Tuesday morning, centres on the irregular award of a Sh382 million tender to Spentech Engineering Limited for the construction of a five-storey county headquarters complex in Nyamira Town.
The project, first launched in December 2018 under former Governor John Nyagarama, was envisioned as a modern administrative block featuring underground parking and was scheduled for completion by 2021. However, nearly seven years later, the incomplete structure has become a potent symbol of mismanagement and graft allegations within the devolved unit.
According to EACC investigators, Governor Nyaribo and four senior county officials — whose names are being withheld pending formal charges — are suspected of authorising inflated payments to Spentech Engineering far exceeding the actual value of the work done.
Preliminary findings suggest that while the initial contract cost was capped at Sh382 million under the 2017/2018 financial year budget, cumulative disbursements to the Nairobi-based contractor were “grossly disproportionate”, raising suspicion of kickbacks, ghost works, and deliberate overbilling.
The commission further alleges that the county government made payments despite minimal progress on-site, transforming what was meant to be a flagship project into a “white elephant” that continues to drain public resources without delivering value to taxpayers.
EACC officers conducted simultaneous raids at Governor Nyaribo’s private residences, his county office, and other related premises, acting under warrants issued pursuant to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act. During the operation, investigators seized key documents, computers, and financial records to reconstruct the procurement trail and identify possible personal enrichment.
Sources within the EACC revealed that the investigation was prompted by whistleblower reports and internal audit findings that exposed procurement irregularities, including possible bid-rigging, conflict of interest, and abuse of office in the tendering process that favoured Spentech Engineering.
Governor Nyaribo, who was elected in 2022 on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket after campaigning on a platform of transparency and development, now faces the prospect of prosecution should the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) approve charges.
The political implications are significant. With Nyamira County emerging as a critical battleground ahead of the 2027 general election, the scandal has sent shockwaves through local leadership circles and rekindled debate over accountability in devolved governance across the Gusii region.
