The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives have arrested Taita Taveta County Assembly Deputy Speaker Anselm Mwadime Chao.
The EACC detectives made good their move on Sunday afternoon, where they later transferred the Deputy Speaker to Mombasa EACC regional bureau for further interrogation.
Mwadime is accused of colluding with the 30 Taita Taveta County officials to embezzle over 17 million shillings, public funds meant for development.
According to EACC, the organisers of the five day training in Zanzibar were paid an upfront of 9 million shillings while the other 8 million shillings was paid to the 30 officials being imprest.
The MCAs and other county officials traveled to Zanzibar for bonding and training in the financial year 2022/2023.
“Some of the Taita Taveta County Assembly members were paid hefty allowances, others minimal while some received the allowances despite the fact that they did not go to Zanzibar,” read earlier statement from EACC.
The training and bonding session was meant to last for six days but ended after five days, despite the organisers and trainers having been paid for all the 6 days.
The EACC after completing its investigations, forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for recommendations and probably prosecution.
The DPP recommended that the Deputy Speaker and his accomplice being the County Assembly Clerk Gadiel Mnyambo Maganga be immediately arrested and charged for indulging in corruption and other economic crimes.
The two purported that they were allowed by the Ministry of Devolution to proceed with the training and bonding mission therefore forging documents purported to have been signed by the Ministry officials.
The Anti-graft body has ordered the Taita Taveta County Assembly Clerk Gadiel Mnyambo Maganga to present himself to Mombasa EACC regional offices for processing.
After Processing, Mwadime will be detained at the Mombasa Central Police station awaiting his presentation before court.
The two will face charges among them forging and falsifying documents, abuse of office, false accounting among others.
The EACC detectives are currently pursuing the County Assembly Clerk who will also face graft charges.
Mwadime is expected to face graft charges leveled against him on Monday.
