Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday carried out a raid at the home and offices of Laikipia County Assembly Speaker Lantano Nabaala over claims that he forged his academic papers.
The early morning operation began at the Speaker’s high-end residence in Nairobi’s Muthaiga estate. After combing through the house, the officers proceeded to the Laikipia County Assembly headquarters in Nanyuki, where they searched various offices. They thoroughly examined files and records, looking for evidence to support the allegations.
According to EACC Central Region boss Japheth Baithalu, the main purpose of the raids was to gather documents and verify reports suggesting that Speaker Nabaala might have falsified his academic qualifications. Baithalu confirmed that Nabaala has already been questioned over the matter, and the investigation is now in an advanced stage.
The Speaker has been under investigation for over a year. The case reportedly began after a group of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) wrote a formal complaint to the Commission, claiming that Nabaala may have secured his position using fake academic credentials. These concerns prompted the EACC to step in and launch a detailed probe.
The latest development comes on the same day EACC revealed that at least nine county governors are currently facing investigations over graft-related allegations. EACC Chairperson David Oginde described corruption levels in county governments as “alarming” and said the scale of the problem goes beyond just the top leadership.
“Unfortunately, we are pursuing quite a number of governors at the moment — nine governors — who are under scrutiny at different stages of their cases. That is a very high percentage,” Oginde said. “And it is not just governors; it goes all the way down to other staff in the counties, both senior and junior.”
Last week, the Commission conducted another major operation targeting senior officials in Busia County. On Wednesday, EACC officers raided the homes and offices of six top county officials in connection with an ongoing investigation into a Ksh1.4 billion tender scandal.
The probe focuses on allegations of irregular procurement processes, conflicts of interest, theft of public resources, and unexplained accumulation of wealth.
Investigators believe that during the 2023/24 and 2024/25 financial years, tenders worth Ksh1.4 billion were improperly awarded to 26 proxy companies linked to the officials under investigation.
These raids highlight the Commission’s intensified crackdown on corruption in devolved units, with investigators warning that no one — regardless of their position — will be spared if found engaging in illegal activities.
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