DPP Renson Igonga…Photo/courtesy.
By IP reporter.
NAIROBI, Kenya (Aug. 23, 2025)
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has handed investigation files involving four county governors, including one former governor, to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for possible charges officials said Friday.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak said three of the files concern sitting governors while one involves a former county chief.
The files are now under review by the DPP’s office with the commission recommending further legal action.
Mbarak also revealed that 11 more governors remain under active investigation for offenses ranging from procurement fraud and embezzlement of public funds to abuse of office.
“We have finalized investigations on four governors — three are in active office and one is a former county head. Their files are now with the Director of Public Prosecutions,” Mbarak told reporters at EACC headquarters in Nairobi. “We await a decision from the DPP on whether to charge them.”
Although the commission did not disclose the names, sources indicated the cases involve counties that have long faced scrutiny over questionable financial management and audit queries.
The development comes amid rising public pressure for accountability in devolved governments which collectively receive billions of shillings in national transfers each year but face persistent allegations of graft and poor service delivery.
Mbarak said the ongoing investigations into the 11 other governors are at different stages, stressing that the commission would not bow to political interference.
“The law does not discriminate, and neither do we,” he said. “We follow evidence, not political pressure.”
Kenya’s 2010 Constitution introduced county governments to bring services closer to citizens but many counties have since been accused of waste, impunity and weak oversight.
Anti-corruption advocates have urged faster prosecutions to deter misuse of devolved funds.
The DPP is expected to announce decisions on the four completed files in the coming weeks.
If charges are approved, the governors could face suspension or removal from office depending on the indictments.
EACC also warned county officials against obstructing investigations saying any interference with evidence will be treated as a criminal offense.
As corruption remains a top public concern, the outcomes of these cases could set the tone for how future accountability in county leadership is enforced.
Ends.
