EACC Recovers Ksh 6.5M in Cash from Turkana County Government Official’s Car in Anti-Graft Raid

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered Ksh 6.5 million in cash hidden inside a vehicle belonging to a senior Turkana County official during a major anti-corruption operation.

The raid, conducted on Thursday, targeted homes and offices of high-ranking county officials, including County Executive Committee Member for Finance Michael Eregae Ekidor, several chief officers, directors, and businessmen tied to the Turkana County Government.

In a statement, the EACC confirmed that search warrants were executed across ten suspects’ premises, leading to the seizure of critical evidence, including the Ksh6.5 million stash found in Ekidor’s car. The money is believed to be ill-gotten gains from corrupt dealings.

“Today, Thursday, 10th April 2025, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, upon obtaining search warrants, conducted searches at the residences and offices of ten (10) suspects including county executive committee members, chief officers, and other senior officials of the County Government of Turkana,” the statement read in part.

“Today’s operations have yielded valuable evidentiary material to support the ongoing investigations including Ksh6.5 million in cash, recovered inside Michael Eregae’s motor vehicle. The money is suspected to be proceeds of corruption,” the statement added.

The commission is also investigating the freezing of Ksh180 million in bank accounts linked to Abenyo Amathwel Etiir, a county security warden, and associated companies.

This operation is part of a wider probe into the alleged embezzlement of over Ksh600 million through fraudulent procurement deals between the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years. The EACC alleges that county officials colluded with private firms to siphon public funds via sham contracts.

“The operation is part of an ongoing investigation in the County Government of Turkana in relation to allegations of embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest, and abuse of office against several Turkana County Government officials who are alleged to have traded with the County through various companies, resulting in payments of over Kes 600 Million for alleged procurement of goods/services between the Financial Years 2022/2023 and 2023/2024,” the statement further read.

The agency has vowed to prosecute all culpable individuals and recover stolen assets, reaffirming its commitment to fighting graft in devolved governments.