A team of
detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) raided
the homes of former Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru,
Principal Secretary Peter Mangiti and former National Youth Service
(NYS) Director General Nelson Githinji in search of crucial evidence in
the ongoing investigations into graft allegations leveled against them.The detectives also raided the homes of two other officials, NYS Deputy Director General Adan Harakhe and suspended tendering committee chair.
The raids which occurred at 7AM Tuesday morning sought to unearth evidence that would help the detectives with the on-going investigations.
Mangiti confirmed the incident saying the officers had valid search warrants at hand with the raids taking about two hours.
At the home of Githinji, a parallel search was on-going with the gates remaining shut, only open to the detectives who left two hours later.
A search at the home of Waiguru took four hours with the media barred from covering the operation.
Waiguru announced her resignation as devolution Cabinet Secretary last month to pave way for investigations into corruption allegations at the National Youth Service (NYS).
She expressed regrets over mistakes made by officials at the NYS, Huduma Centres and her Ministry which she said had led to attacks on her personal values and her children.
Prior to her resignation, Waiguru had been under pressure to resign following allegations of corruption at the National Youth Service which led to the alleged loss of Ksh 791 million.
Her resignation came barely a week after the National Youth Service (NYS) Director General Nelson Githinji stepped aside, after Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko ordered for his prosecution over allegations of fraud, alongside Devolution Permanent Secretary Peter Mangiti.
Mangiti, Githinji and 23 other officials from the devolution ministry are currently facing various charges related to fraudulent transactions at the ministry and the loss of millions of shillings.
The case against the Mangiti and Githinji came after the Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko ordered for their prosecution along with businessman Benson Muchemi over allegations of fraud at NYS.
Tobiko accused the three of tampering with a public officer by trying to prevent NYS Senior Deputy Director General in Charge of Administration, Adan Harakhe, from reporting the loss of Ksh 695,400,000 to the directorate of criminal investigations.
The DPP also accused the three of threatening and intimidating Harakhe with unspecified consequences if he proceeded to withdraw from the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).
Tobiko also ordered the prosecution of the 23 Devolution Ministry officials for allegedly stealing and conspiring to defraud NYS of the sum of Ksh 791,385,000, contrary to section 317 of the Penal Code.
The officials allegedly implicated in the offence are Regina Mungai, Fredrick Nachiche, Josephine Kabura, Peter Otwoma, Hendrick Pilisi, Ben Muchemi, Samuel Wacheje, Jane Wangechi, David Alunga, Titus Libondo, Chemos Ndiema, Naftali Githinji, Ruth Hihu, Charles Nyaachi, Mary Mbuthia, Ezekiel Kamau, James Kanuthi, Samwel Kilonzo, Philip Otunga, Jennifer Mugure, Rhoda Makau, Joel Karenju and Francis Kariuki.
credit: CitizenTv