In a significant move against corruption, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended a sitting Member of County Assembly (MCA) and two former high-ranking officials from Garissa County. The trio stands accused of orchestrating a massive fraudulent payment scheme amounting to over Ksh 51.4 million, a sum that could have otherwise funded crucial development projects for the people of Garissa.
The suspects, identified as Abdi Ibrahim Daar, the MCA for Balambala Ward, Mohamud Dubow Korane, the former Director of Accounting Services, and Yussuf Bethe Ali, formerly a Senior Principal Economist, are now facing charges of conspiracy to commit corruption. Their alleged scheme, which unfolded between April and June 2022, involved facilitating payments to a company named Qorjarey Enterprise and General Supplies Limited for goods and services that investigators claim were never actually delivered or procured by the county government.
EACC investigations reveal that the colossal sum was processed through the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS), raising serious questions about the integrity of financial oversight within the county. Specifically, Korane is alleged to have approved payments exceeding Ksh 10.8 million and another Ksh 12.9 million to the said company within a span of just two days in June 2022, all for non-existent supplies.
Yusuf Ali, on his part, is accused of raising multiple invoices, including one for Ksh 14.5 million in April 2022, another for Ksh 8.3 million later that month, and a further Ksh 4.8 million in May 2022, all purportedly to facilitate these dubious transactions. MCA Ibrahim Daar faces additional charges of forgery, with allegations that he falsified tender and award documents to provide cover for these illicit payments.
The arrests, which took place on February 22, 2026, underscore the EACC’s unwavering commitment to combating graft and safeguarding public resources. The three are expected to be arraigned today, February 23, 2026, at the Garissa Law Courts to face their charges. This development sends a strong message across the country that accountability is paramount, and those who pilfer public funds will be brought to justice. For the ordinary Kenyan, this case highlights the ongoing battle against corruption that diverts essential resources from public services and infrastructure, ultimately hindering national progress. Kelele Digital will be keenly following the proceedings and their implications for governance and public trust in Kenya.
