The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a senior Siaya County Government official in connection with the alleged embezzlement of more than KES 100 million in public funds.
Mr. Hezron Junior Opiyo, an accountant in the Department of Finance and Economic Planning, was picked up on Tuesday, 26th August 2025, following investigations that uncovered fraudulent payments disguised as training and travel allowances for activities that never took place.
The arrest is part of a wider probe into suspected irregular payments at the county, where officials are believed to have siphoned over KES 400 million through fictitious allowances.
EACC has since forwarded the file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved charges against Opiyo. He is currently detained at Kisumu Port Police Station and is expected to be arraigned before the Kisumu Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, 27th August.
In addition to the criminal case, EACC has initiated a civil recovery process for KES 102.9 million plus accrued interest, allegedly obtained by the suspect.
The Commission further disclosed that it is investigating seven other cases of fraudulent allowance payments totaling more than KES 700 million, processed between 2017 and 2022 by county officials.
EACC reiterated its commitment to protecting public resources and ensuring accountability in the management of taxpayers’ money.
