The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched an investigation into allegations of corruption involving one of the wives of Wycliffe Oparanya which is said to have happened during his tenure as Kakamega governor.

The accusations revolve around irregular payments allegedly received from Kakamega county government for a nonexistent trip to Dallas, United States.

EACC says one of Oparanya’s wives received Ksh5,951,645 in irregular payments from the Kakamega county.

The funds were claimed through the Office of the County First Lady, an entity that has no legal basis under Kenyan law.

“The Commission received a report on allegations of corruption against the spouse of the former Governor of the County Government of Kakamega (CGK), who irregularly received payments from the county as imprests for a trip to Dallas, United States of America, which did not take place,” EACC said.

According to the anti-graft body, the funds were deposited into the spouse’s M-Pesa and bank accounts under the guise of allowances and other financial entitlements.

The investigation further established that the former governor’s wife’s personal assistant allegedly initiated fraudulent requisitions, which were subsequently approved by the County Secretary and processed by the Finance Department.

A report compiled by the EACC was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on November 12, 2024. The report recommends charges against the former governor’s wife, the County Secretary, the Deputy County Secretary, and the Acting Chief Officer for Health Services. The proposed charges include:

The EACC has confirmed that it is now awaiting the DPP’s decision on whether to proceed with the prosecution.

This is not the first time the Oparanya, now the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), has been targeted in corruption investigations.

On August 23, 2023, Oparanya and his two wives were arrested by the EACC over allegations of economic crimes committed during his tenure as governor.

Authorities conducted raids on their residences in Nairobi and Butere, seizing critical documents as part of an investigation into the alleged embezzlement of Ksh1.3 billion.

Oparanya’s girlfriend Mary Biketi is also known for flaunting a lavish lifestyle, which many suspect is funded by taxpayers’ money.