EACC Freezes Oparanya Assets Worth KES 28.9 Million over 1.3 Billion Graft Probe

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has obtained orders to freeze assets worth Ksh.28.9 million belonging to former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya over his alleged involvement in a Ksh.1.3 billion graft probe.

I’mThe anti-graft body was given the asset freeze nod by the High Court on Thursday, pending the completion of ongoing investigations.

In the orders, Justice Esther Maina prohibited Oparanya, private companies associated with him, their agents, servants or any other persons from withdrawing, transferring, or in any other way dealing with the frozen amount for the next six months.

Oparanya, alongside his spouses, was earlier questioned by EACC detectives in August in relation to the alleged embezzlement of Ksh.1.3 billion which occurred during his two-term tenure as Kakamega Governor.

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Investigations indicate that public funds were unlawfully acquired through proxies and associates during Oparanya’s tenure.

It has been reported that a portion of the frozen funds was channelled by two companies, Sesela Resources Limited and Sabema International Limited, contracted by the County Government of Kakamega to purchase a house in Karen, Nairobi.

The house, called Olorua Ridge Development, was purchased at a price of Ksh.89M from the Local Authorities Pension Trust Registered Trustees (LAPTRUST).

“It is suspected that the former Governor used a company, called Tricomp Energy Company Limited, as a vehicle to purchase the house in Karen,” adds documents obtained by Citizen Digital.

EACC had earlier forwarded the ex-governor’s file to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for appropriate action after conducting thorough investigations into all reported offences.

The matter is set to be mentioned on June 11, 2024.