Oparanya Arrested After Ksh1.3B Hole Discovery
According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the detention of former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya was the result of an investigation into the disappearance of Ksh1.3 billion.
In a statement obtained by GossipA2Z.com, the anti-corruption agency verified on Wednesday that its officers had conducted a series of searches at the residences of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Deputy Party Leader in an attempt to uncover potential leads regarding the missing funds.
The EACC statement verified that the Ksh1.3 billion is part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged misappropriation of public funds during Oparanya’s tenure as governor.
“The former governor was brought to the EACC headquarters at the Integrity Centre in Nairobi this morning to clarify several issues and record a statement regarding the ongoing investigation,” the agency said in a statement.
Wednesday’s detention of Oparanya and subsequent raids on his residences are not an isolated incident, according to the EACC.
The commission headed by Twalib Mbarak disclosed that the raid is part of multiple ongoing investigations into the loss of public funds at various county governments, which are at various stages.
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EACC stated, “Upon completion, the investigation files will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further instructions.”
If Oparanya and other governors are found culpable of embezzlement, the EACC will initiate civil proceedings for the recovery of public funds.
EACC cautioned individuals against reading malice into its investigations, emphasizing that all inquiries are conducted impartially and within the bounds of the law.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party announced earlier in the day in a statement that Oparanya and his wife Pricilla had been apprehended.
“DCI officers have arrested our Deputy Party Leader, Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.” Oparanya and his wife, Madam Priscillah, are currently at the EACC offices at Integrity Centre, the ODM announced, noting that his residences in Nairobi and Kakamega were ransacked.
The former governor has yet to comment on his detention and the EACC’s allegations involving Ksh1.3 billion.
Oparanya Arrested After Ksh1.3B Hole Discovery