Nzoia Sugar Company Managing Director Godfrey Sifuna Wanyonyi was yesterday afternoon arrested by detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) over alleged embezzlement of company funds amounting to tens of millions. Sifuna was later in the evening transported to Eldoret.
He will be arraigned in court tomorrow morning to face charges of abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, forgery and violation of public finance laws and regulations. Immediately after his dramatic arrest yesterday afternoon, Sifuna was temporarily held at Integrity Centre, Eacc headquarters for pre-charge processing before being taken to Eldoret under police guard.
“He and six other senior managers within the finance department will be charged with various offences.” Eacc spokesperson Yassin Amaro said.
Sifuna’s appointment to the helm of the institution was contested early last year by three petitioners who sued the Nzoia Sugar Company board of directors and Agriculture cabinet Secretary.
They claimed that the process of appointing a new managing director was “tainted with conflict of interest.
The petitioners alleged Sifuna did not disclose that he is closely associated with the recruiting firm, which selected him as the top candidate.
Also, sugarcane farmers challenged Sifuna’s appointment citing corruption allegations They claimed the MD and other company top managers are subjects of scrutiny over corruption in the firm.
