Gladys Mami Kivoto among six arrested over alleged conflict of interest and procurement irregularities
KITUI, August 6, 2026: The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Kitui County Chief Officer for Agriculture and Fisheries Gladys Mami Kivoto and five company directors over alleged conflict of interest and procurement irregularities involving contracts worth Sh17.48 million.
According to an EACC statement issued on Thursday, the commission launched investigations after receiving allegations that Kivoto traded with the County Government of Kitui through five proxy companies while serving as a Chief Officer and Authorised Officer.
The companies named in the investigations are Shanel Construction Company Ltd, ECO Stone Company Ltd, AZ Links Company Ltd, DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Ltd.
EACC said the companies were cumulatively paid Sh14.12 million by the county between the 2018/2019 and 2024/2025 financial years.
The contracts under investigation have a combined value of Sh17,484,484.49.
RELATIVES LINKED TO CONTRACTORS
The commission alleges that Kivoto awarded contracts and approved payments to the companies while serving as Chief Officer and AIE Holder in the Departments of Irrigation and Agriculture and Fisheries.
EACC further alleges that Josephine Mwikali Wambua, director of Shanel Construction Company; Makoma Wambua, director of AZ Links Company; and Emmanuel Wambua, director of ECO Stone Company, are close relatives of Kivoto.
The investigations also uncovered what the commission described as numerous financial transactions between Kivoto and directors of DTK Construction Company Ltd and 4-Walls Company Ltd.
DPP APPROVES PROSECUTION OF NINE
Following the investigations, EACC said the inquiry file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved the prosecution of nine suspects.
The suspects are facing proposed charges including conflict of interest, abuse of office, corrupt procurement practices, money laundering and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The commission arrested six suspects on Thursday.
They include Gladys Mami Kivoto, Josephine Mwikali Wambua, Roselyne Kyambi Kilonzi, Mary Mueni Mbiti, Jonathan Kivondo Kieti and Onesmus Munyao Nzioka.
The six are expected to be presented before the Kitui Law Courts.
The case is expected to shed further light on the procurement processes surrounding the contracts and the alleged relationships between the county official and some of the contractors.
EACC has directed three other suspects, whom it says are believed to have gone into hiding, to report immediately to its Lower Eastern Regional Office in Machakos or the nearest EACC office for processing of the allegations leveled against them.
The three are Makoma Wambua – Director, ECO Stone Company Ltd, Emmanuel Wambua – Director, AZ Links Company Ltd, Stella Nthenya Kioko – Director, AZ Links Company Ltd
SUSPECTS TO APPEAR IN COURT
The six arrested suspects are expected to be arraigned before the Kitui Law Courts this afternoon, where the allegations against them are expected to be formally presented.
The development marks a major escalation in the anti-corruption investigation surrounding the award and payment of contracts by the Kitui County Government.
EACC has also called on State organs and public entities to strengthen compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act, 2025, particularly through effective measures for the declaration, management and prevention of conflicts of interest involving public officers.
The commission said it remains committed to safeguarding public resources and ensuring that individuals involved in corruption and economic crimes are held accountable.
Safi News will continue following the matter as the suspects are taken to court and the legal process unfolds.