Former PS Kaberia among six arrested over Ksh330m CHAN tender

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested six former sports officials and contractors over the alleged irregular award and payment of a Ksh1.5 billion tender linked to preparations for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The suspects were arrested on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following investigations into a contract for the supply and installation of security, access control, communications, audio-visual, and pitch lighting systems at various stadia in Kenya.

According to the EACC, the contract, valued at USD 15.89 million, approximately Ksh 1.5 billion, was awarded in 2017 by the then State Department for Sports Development in the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and the Arts to Auditel Kenya, a Spanish company registered in Kenya.

Investigators established that an advance payment of USD 3.15 million, equivalent to about Sh330 million, was made to the company despite the contract allegedly not having been procured in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.

The company subsequently failed to fulfill its contractual obligations, resulting in what the commission described as a loss of Sh330 million in public funds.

The EACC further said investigations established that the funds were transferred through various entities in an attempt to conceal their source and facilitate their movement back to Kenya.

Following the conclusion of its investigations, the anti-graft agency forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved the prosecution of public officials, company directors, and other individuals linked to the matter.

The suspects face charges including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering, and abuse of office.

Those arrested are former Principal Secretary in the State Department for Sports Development Amb. Peter Kirimi Kaberia; Senior Principal Finance Officer at the Ministry of Education Stephen Njoroge Muthuma; Sports Kenya Senior Superintendent Engineer John Kiende Ruga; tax adviser and Taxwise Africa Consulting LLP partner Samuel Mbaa Njoroge; former Principal Accountant at the State Department for Sports Development Enock Ondwari Onditi; and former Instalaciones Inabensa SA employee Anthony Mwangi Kimathi.

The six suspects are expected to be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court at Milimani in Nairobi.

The EACC has also directed four other individuals to present themselves immediately at the Integrity Centre or the nearest EACC office. They are former Sports Department director of administration Harun Komen Chebet, Auditel Ingenieria Y Servicios director Marcos Gonzalez Puente, former Football Kenya Federation audit committee member Kitheka Muema, and automobile business consultant Ephraim Muchangi Kinyua.

The commission has also instituted civil proceedings seeking recovery and forfeiture of public funds and assets allegedly acquired through proceeds of crime arising from the matter.