Fight against graft: EACC strikes Ministry of Sports, recovers Ksh3.5 million from officials

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified its fight against graft in the sports sector with a major operation targeting senior officials at the State Department for Sports over allegations of unlawfully acquiring KSh3.8 billion through fraudulent procurement deals.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the commission said it had executed court-sanctioned search warrants at various locations in Nairobi, Kiambu, Machakos, Nyeri, and Nanyuki, seizing key evidence from the suspects’ residences and offices.

The move marks one of the most extensive anti-graft crackdowns in the sports ministry in recent years.

Those under investigation include Caroline Muthoni Kariuki, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Sports; Otis Mutwiri Ntubiri, Deputy Accountant General, ASALs and Regional Development; David Muasya Musau, Accountant, State Department of Sports; Dickson Kibunyi Mahia, Director of Turkenya Tours & Safaris Limited and Afromerch Travel Kenya Limited; and Maureen Wangui Wambugu, Director of Smart Flows Travel Limited.

According to the EACC, preliminary investigations reveal that the suspects allegedly siphoned funds through irregular tenders awarded to travel and logistics companies connected to them.

The scheme is believed to have involved inflated invoices and payments for non-existent services, resulting in massive losses to the public.

During the coordinated operation, EACC officers recovered KSh3.58 million in cash, title deeds for prime properties, and luxury motor vehicles suspected to have been acquired using proceeds of corruption.

EACC said the materials will serve as vital evidence in tracing how the money was diverted and laundered.

“The operation, which was pursuant to court orders, is part of ongoing investigations into the unlawful acquisition of KSh3, 800,563,277 by senior officials during Financial Years 2020/2021 and 2025/2026,” the commission confirmed.

This latest scandal adds to a long list of financial mismanagement cases that have plagued Kenya’s Ministry of Sports over the years. Notably, the 2016 Rio Olympics scandal saw funds meant for athletes’ travel and welfare embezzled.

In 2017, an Auditor General’s report revealed that half of the KSh1.7 billion allocated for the IAAF World Youth Championships was unaccounted for.

Similarly, in 2018, the EACC launched probes into a KSh220 million irregular stadium upgrade deal for the CHAN tournament.

EACC says the current operation aims to ensure accountability and recovery of stolen assets as part of ongoing efforts to restore integrity in Kenya’s sports management.