Residents of Siaya county want those implicated in the loss of Sh2.8 billion since 2013 arrested.
They claim that remarks by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Western Kenya regional deputy head Danstan Aura cannot be wished away easily.
They claim, top county officials led by Governor Cornel Rasanga have bribed EACC officers investigating the graft hence no arrests are done.They want retired ACK Bishop Eliud Wabukala to note ill-happenings in EACC Western office.
Aura has also been challenged to state what steps he has taken to investigate 313 corruption cases that have been reported to the commission since 2013.
Weekly Citizen has information, of the said 313 cases, only 67 are being investigated but at a slow pace after those implicated parting with money.
While a chief guest at an accountability dialogue forum in Siaya, Aura said, a number of files had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Those present want EACC to prosecute Siaya MCAs who were paid allowances but never toured Uganda.
It is said, EACC instead of prosecuting them has recommended that the money be recovered from the ward reps.
It is said, Siaya staff has bribed EACC officers investigating the matter and that is why they claim to be intimidated by county staff. Queries are being asked as to how, EACC officers can arrest top parastatal bosses but be intimidated by county junior officers when they have powers to arrest as they did with Nairobi governor Mike Sonko.
Aura surprised those at the forum when he stated, “When we visit this county for investigations, employees are put on alert not to allow us have any documents that can aid in investigations”.
Legal experts say, obstruction of state officials engaged in investigations is a crime and punishable in courts. Why those involved have not been arrested and charged as per Aura remarks has left many questions unanswered.
Chris Owalla, the director of Community Initiative Action Group and a human rights activist speaking to Weekly Citizen revealed, some EACC officials were on county government payroll and cannot act on reports.
