Scores of people were today injured and several vehicles damaged as supporters of Isiolo governor Godana Doyo confronted Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) detectives who had raided the county boss’ house.
The detectives were searching for documents in relation to investigations into a Sh 271 million road project that was never constructed despite the money having been paid out.
It was also a day that Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero appeared at Integrity Center to present documents detailing Nairobi County government expenditure of the contested Sh50million legal fees.
The governor reported at 9am and left at 9:15am.
In Isiolo, the investigators had also ransacked Doyo’s house as they looked for evidence to pin him down.
But the governor’s supporters who had camped outside the governor’s resident, pelted the officers with stones, damaging windscreens of their vehicles.
The detectives and police officers had been barred from entering his residence in Chechelesi at around 6am, but were later allowed in after Doyo’s lawyer arrived.
EACC Upper Eastern Director Ignatius Wekesa , who led a team of about ten detectives from EACC, said officials were going through the documents that would help the ongoing investigations.
Doyo is facing charges of economic crimes and abuse of office and is one of the county chiefs that could be barred from contesting in the August election over pending graft case if proposals by the EACC are adopted.
Later Doyo claimed the raid was politically instigated by EACC chief executive Halakhe D. Waqo, who hails from the same county.
“The harassment by EACC officers is to blame for the resignation of the county chief finance officer, the former Director of Finance and the Head of supply Chain,” Doyo said.
He also dismissed EACC claims of a Sh271 million road project that was never constructed, saying the county has never spent or budgeted an amount of such kind.
The officers also extended their search to County’s Finance department.
The controversial spending was made as payment for construction of a nonexistent road.
“We have obtained crucial documents that will help the ongoing probe. Of interest is any information related to the case at hand.” a senior official privy with the case said.
Doyo is also being investigated over alleged abuse of office and misappropriation through spending public funds without the approval of the county assembly.
Further, he is accused of misusing public funds and using fraudulent and illegal document purported to be the supplementary appropriation budget at the county.
Doyo is alleged to have irregularly appointed and promoted individuals in Isiolo County.
In 2015, Doyo obtained court orders stopping his prosecution after the Drector of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko had approved recommendations by the anti-graft agency to have the governor and three county officials prosecuted over allegations they had irregularly passed a law on spending in December 2014.
DPP had recommended Doyo alongside three county officials; David Lemantile (deputy speaker), Boru Adan Jirima (assistant clerk of the assembly) and Abdi Sora (finance committee chair) be charged.
In the past, several governors have attempted to stall their prosecution through court injuctions.
Some include: Mwangi Wa Iria (Murang’a), Nathif Jama (Garissa), Dr Alfred Mutua (Machakos) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega).
Wa Iria had been accused of giving false information to the EACC prior to the 2013 polls while Jama and Oparanya stopped their prosecution over procurement of ambulances and incitement respectively.
Kidero and Doyo are among the governors Eacc is seeking to block from vying in 2017 polls over graft allegations.
Others include; Mutua, Jama Wa Iria and Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong.
