In a high-voltage anti-graft crackdown, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Esther Wanjiru Chege, a senior accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) in Kajiado, in connection with a Ksh 38 million conflict of interest scandal that has shaken the state agency to its core.
Wanjiru was seized alongside three accomplices on May 2, 2025, after investigators unraveled a scheme involving the unlawful awarding of tenders to companies owned by her spouse and brother — all while she held a position of influence within the agency. EACC says Wanjiru manipulated the tendering process, awarding contracts to Reswan Enterprises Limited, Rokays Enterprise Limited, Reswan Holdings Limited, and Kaydtech Enterprises Limited, all of which are linked directly to her close family members.
In a shocking revelation, it was discovered that Wanjiru herself operated the bank accounts of Reswan Enterprises Limited, a company registered under her brother James Chege Njoroge and businessman James Ngigi Kamau, raising serious red flags about the integrity of public procurement processes.
The accused were arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Tuesday, May 6, where they were charged with Conflict of Interest, Unlawful Acquisition of Public Property, and Conspiracy to Commit an Economic Crime, among other charges. They all pleaded not guilty.
Beyond the criminal charges, the EACC has filed a civil suit seeking forfeiture of Ksh 38,610,843.91, which they believe was acquired through corrupt dealings. Investigations revealed that Wanjiru’s official salary increased modestly from Ksh 49,580 in 2016 to Ksh 116,640 in 2022, yet she amassed wealth grossly disproportionate to her legitimate income.
Sources close to the probe have described the case as a “blatant abuse of office,” and a “classic example of how public servants turn government institutions into private business empires.”
The court is expected to issue bail and bond terms on May 9, 2025, even as EACC vows to intensify its war against entrenched corruption networks within government.
As Kenyans reel from this exposé, many are asking: How deep does this rot go — and who’s next?
