The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has addressed concerns regarding a social media post about a graft case involving some officials from Taita Taveta County. These concerns arose from a media report suggesting that the EACC had provided a misleading account of the case.
The report highlighted court proceedings at a Mombasa anti-corruption court, claiming that the EACC inaccurately stated the amount involved in the alleged loss of funds. While the EACC posted that the amount lost was Sh7 million, the charge sheet presented in court reportedly indicated it was Sh4 million.
In response, the EACC clarified that the report misrepresented what transpired in court. The commission noted that the amount specified in the charge sheet pertained only to the accused individuals charged on Wednesday, not the total sum involved in the alleged fraudulent activities of the arrested county officials.
During the arraignment of the Taita Taveta graft suspects on Wednesday, the counsel for the accused expressed concerns to the court, claiming that the EACC accused his clients of stealing Sh7 million instead of Sh4 million. The counsel then requested a court order to prevent the EACC and media from publishing further information about the case.
Chief Magistrate Hon. Alex Ithuku, in dismissing the request to silence the EACC and media, noted that if the charge sheet indicating Sh4 million was the only reference, then the EACC’s figure of Sh7 million could be considered incorrect. However, EACC clarified that the magistrate’s comments were not to be taken lightly.
EACC emphasized that the actual amount allegedly stolen by the accused was not the central issue before the court. “It is, therefore, clarified that the Commission’s earlier report on the graft case, which this story referred to as misleading, is, indeed, unimpeachable,” the EACC stated.
