Politician Among Three Senior Garissa Officials Arrested Over Ksh 51.4 Million Fraud

A sitting Member of County Assembly (MCA) is among three senior Garissa County officials arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over the alleged fraudulent payment of Ksh 51,495,516 for goods and services that were never delivered.

In a statement issued from the Integrity Centre in Nairobi, the Commission said it had arrested the three suspects for arraignment before the Garissa Law Courts in connection with what it termed “irregular and fraudulent payments” made during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 financial years.

“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested three senior officials of the County Government of Garissa to be arraigned before Court over fraudulent payments amounting to KSh51,495,516 made to a private company for goods and services not delivered,” the statement read in part.

The anti-graft agency identified the suspects as Mr. Abdi Ibrahim Daar, the MCA for Balambala Ward and sole director of Qorjarey Enterprise & General Supplies Limited; Mr. Mohamud Dubow Korane, former Director of Accounting Services in Garissa County; and Mr. Yussuf Bethe Ali, former Senior Principal Economist with the county government.

Payments for Undelivered Emergency Supplies

According to the Commission, investigations were launched following allegations that Garissa County irregularly paid Ksh 51,495,516 to Qorjarey Enterprise & General Supplies Limited between August 2021 and September 2022.

The funds were purportedly for the  “supply of emergency relief food items and water trucking services,” which, investigators say, “were not delivered to the County Government.”

EACC further disclosed that Mr. Daar, who previously served as Social Development Officer at the county between 2018 and 2022, “is the sole director and bank signatory of Qorjarey Enterprise & General Supplies Limited.”

Investigators established that the company was “irregularly paid KSh51,495,516 for no goods, works, or services delivered,” raising questions over internal controls within the county’s procurement and finance departments.

Also Read: Govt Sends Ksh 778 Million Cash Transfer to Poor Kenyans

Procurement Irregularities and Forgery Claims

The Commission stated that there was “neither a budgetary provision nor an approved procurement plan” for the purported emergency relief supplies and water trucking services during the 2021/2022 financial year.

Further, Qorjarey Enterprise & General Supplies Limited, “was not among the pre-qualified suppliers for the Financial Years 2021/2022 and 2022/2023,” according to the EACC statement.

In what points to a broader scheme, investigators alleged that “documents were forged to facilitate and support the irregular payments.”

The Commission also accused Mr. Korane and Mr. Ali of having “processed and approved the fraudulent payments in favour of the company without any procurement process and for services not rendered.”

Also Read: EACC Responds to Claims of Ignoring Corruption in Northern Kenya

Charges and Court Proceedings

Upon conclusion of investigations, the EACC forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who, “upon independent review, concurred with EACC’s recommendation to charge the three suspects.”

The suspects now face charges including, “conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption contrary to Section 47A (3) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act,” “abuse of office contrary to Section 46,” “forgery contrary to Section 345 of the Penal Code,” and “fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to Section 45 (1) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.”

The three were arrested on Sunday, February 22, 2026, and are scheduled to appear before the Garissa Law Courts on Monday, February 23, 2026, for plea taking.

“In addition to the criminal proceedings, the Commission will institute a civil suit to recover the unlawful payments from the suspects,” the statement added.

Reaffirming its mandate, the Commission said it “reiterates its commitment to safeguarding public resources and urges public officers to uphold integrity and accountability in the management of public funds.”

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

EACC structure for illustration purposes. PHOTO/Pixels