Mwangi Wa Iria: Ex-Murang'a Governor's Spouse, Brother Arrested By EACC Officers

• Jane Waigwe, who is the wife of former Murang'a county governor Mwangi Wa Iria, is facing charges of graft and abuse of office, among others
• According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Waigwe, her husband and other suspects partook in a KSh 140 million graft during Wa Iria's first term in office
• Waigwe was arrested alongside her brother Solomon Kimani and arraigned in a Nairobi court to answer to the charges

Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi: Former Murang'a governor Mwangi Wa Iria's wife, Jane Waigwe Kimani, and her brother, Solomon Mutura Kimani, have been arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts.

The two were arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officials on Wednesday, April 17.

Also on the anti-graft body's radar is the former governor, whom they accused of refusing to honour summons.

The state is running after the former county boss, his wife, and his brother-in-law over the supposed fraudulent award of tenders to two companies in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 fiscal years.

Why Mwangi Wa Iria, his wife are on EACC radar

The EACC is pursuing five other suspects who served under Wa Iria in the foregoing period.

The anti-graft body summoned the eight after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved charges against them, but they failed to honour the invitation to probe.

According to the ODPP, KSh 140 million could not be accounted for due to irregularities in procurement and conflicts of interest in tenders awarded to two companies linked with Waigwe and her brother.

According to the statutory institutions, the county government, then under Wa Iria, awarded publicity tenders to Top Image Media Consultancy Ltd and Value View Limited without observing due process.

The ODPP recommended that the eight be charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption contrary to Section 47A (3) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA), abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property and conflict of interest.

Other charges are dealing with suspect property and money laundering.

EACC goes after another Azimio leader

Wa Iria becomes another luminary from the opposition to face tribulations at the hands of the state.

Last year, EACC officers raided the homes of former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who was also facing graft charges.

Oparanya and his two wives were apprehended over alleged economic crimes committed during his reign as Kakamega county boss.

The ODM deputy party leader was implicated in alleged procurement irregularities.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke