Why EACC Wants 16 Current and Former Governors Prosecuted

EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has turned the spotlight on 16 current and former governors accused of engaging in massive corruption schemes that cost taxpayers billions of shillings.

According to the commission, five sitting governors and 11 former county chiefs are under active investigation over allegations ranging from embezzlement of public funds and abuse of office to conflict of interest, money laundering, and possession of unexplained wealth.

EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud revealed that in the last eight months alone, the commission concluded 89 high-profile corruption cases, forwarding 82 of them to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) with recommendations for prosecution. Among those cases are files touching directly on governors, two former Cabinet Secretaries, a Principal Secretary, and several heads of state corporations.

The financial scale of the cases is staggering. The commission disclosed that it is currently pursuing graft involving more than KSh 1.6 billion and linked to 822 county officials across the country. In addition, EACC has managed to recover 12 prime assets valued at about KSh 600 million, as well as KSh 105 million in cash, while thwarting potential losses estimated at KSh 7.2 billion through timely intervention.

“These investigations send a clear signal that the era of impunity is over,” Mohamud said, stressing that governors whether in office or retired must account for their actions.

The commission further noted that Kenya’s anti-graft fight has been strengthened by new legislative tools, including the Conflict of Interest Act, the Anti-Corruption Laws (Amendment Bill), and the Whistleblower Protection Bill, which are expected to tighten accountability mechanisms in public service.

As the ODPP weighs the files already forwarded by EACC, the fate of several powerful political figures now hangs in the balance. The prosecutions, if approved, would mark one of the most sweeping anti-corruption crackdowns targeting county leadership since the advent of devolution.

Reporting by: Babz Abdul Raheem N.
Date: August 23, 2025