EACC questions Wa Iria over raid

Murang'a County Governor Mwangi wa Iria addresses journalists on February 8, 2016 after being grilled by EACC officers. PHOTO | DIANA NGILA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The governor added that he suspected the EACC was being misinformed by figures determined to sabotage him.

  • Although he did not reveal names, Wa Iria said he knew who the "enemies" were.

  • EACC Chief Executive Halakhe Waqo and his deputy Michael Mubea said the investigation involved questionable transactions.

Embattled Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria was questioned Monday by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission detectives over a confrontation between him and investigators at his Thika home.

The governor was summoned by the commission after officers who had gone to get documents from his house were blocked by his associates and county officials.

Curiously, Mr Wa Iria maintained that he was still in the dark concerning the charges he was facing, even after spending most of Monday afternoon at the EACC offices.

“As I said before, this is purely a witch-hunt by political adversaries. I asked what I was being investigated for and they did not disclose anything,” he said.

This is despite EACC Chief Executive Halakhe Waqo and his deputy Michael Mubea saying the investigation involved questionable transactions valued at billions of shillings, abuse of office, nepotism and conflict of interest.

“We are not pursuing any political interests. We are guided by the law,” Mr Waqo said on Saturday.

Governor Wa Iria maintained his innocence concerning the scuffle at his house.

“People have been saying that I called goons to attack investigators. How could I do so when the first thing they confiscated was my phone? How could I have called anyone?” he asked.

The governor added that he suspected the EACC was being misinformed by figures determined to sabotage him.

Although he did not reveal any names, Mr Wa Iria said he knew who the "enemies" were.

“A similar thing happened before I came into office. These people know I have no formidable opponent and so they are trying to bring me down by tainting my record in Murang’a with unfounded criminal allegations,” he said.