Assistant County Commissioner of Tana River County Teddy Buya Bonaya was on Wednesday arrested by the Ethics and Anti-corruption commission officers over alleged theft of county relief food.
The Ganze Sub-County official allegedly stole the food donated towards helping the needy and less fortunate people in the area and sold it. EACC revealed that the food donated to help the elderly, sick people, and vulnerable individuals, was part of the national governments’ relief distribution program.
The government has been distributing relief food to residents who have been affected by disasters such as drought, floods, heavy rainfalls. The activity is usually put under the responsibility of the senior national government administrators.
In past recent days, the commission has been going after high profile graft suspects across the country and intensified its anti-graft efforts. The government in December last year issued a warning to people handling relief food supplies, stating that they would be hold accountable for any inconsistencies reported in distribution.
The donation is estimated to be valued at ksh 550,200, is yet to be recovered, as the commission intensifies investigation to establish how much of iwas sold. EACC has launched an investigation to uncover facts surrounding the incident and affirm whether the official carried out the deed alone or in collaboration with other officials.
“The commission has this morning arrested an assistant county commissioner who stole and sold relief food valued at sh550,200 meant for needy residents in Tana North sub-county within Tana River County. He will be arraigned at the Garissa Anti-corruption court tomorrow (Thursday),” EACC said.
The commission said investigations into the case begun in April 2020.
“Investigations started in April 2020 when the commission received allegations that 300 bags of relief food belonging to Tana North Sub- County had been stolen,” EACC added.
#CaughtInCorruptionThisWeek
ARREST OF ASSISTANT COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHO SOLD RELIEF FOOD FOR TANA-RIVER RESIDENTS
The Commission has this morning arrested one Teddy Buya Bonaya, Assistant County Commissioner 1, Ganze Sub-County, in Kilifi County, who stole and sold relief food… pic.twitter.com/EN8rHIYaGa— EACC (@EACCKenya) January 31, 2024