EACC defends raiding Natembeya’s home with heavily armed officers
John Lolkoloi, Ethics and Leadership Director at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, defended the raid on the Kitale home of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya as part of an investigation into a Ksh1.4 billion procurement scandal.
During the raid, the EACC officers were accompanied by heavily armed officers who manned the residence as officers searched Natembeya’s house.
Defending the decision, John Lolkoloi, explained that the heavy police presence was meant to assure EACC officers of their safety while conducting the search.
He dismissed claims that the heavily armed officers were meant to intimidate the governor and his family during the operation, maintaining that having a police escort was part of their routine.
“It was necessary, and still something bad happened- our officers were attacked and vehicles were vandalised. You can imagine if they had just gone alone, what could have happened,” John Lolkoloi wondered.
“So basically, when we have those security accompanying officers, it is just for the purpose of ensuring their security; it is not to intimidate anybody, but just to ensure that the operation is done in a secure manner,” he insisted.
However, he blamed the local leaders for inciting their followers as in the case at Natembeya’s home where five vehicles were vandalised and some of the seized items stolen.
No politics
At the same time, John Lolkoloi, shielded EACC from the narrative that most of their investigations were politically motivated. The senior officer noted that it was only a coincidence that Natembeya was arrested at the height of his political rhetoric.
However, he clarified that investigations were ongoing for a while over the scandal.
“On the issue of Trans Nzoia governor, this was an ordinary investigation that the commission was undertaking. EACC is an independent commission; we do our work in accordance with the law,” he stated.
“This could have just been a coincidence that certain statements were made just as we were ongoing with investigations. We are guided by professionalism and integrity in our work,” he further made it clear.
The arrest
The EACC stated that the alleged financial misconduct occurred during the fiscal years 2022/2023 and 2024/2025, and focuses on three major county projects: the rehabilitation and modernisation of Kenyatta Stadium (Phase 1A), the construction of the Trans Nzoia County Headquarters Offices, and the construction of Tom Mboya1 Hospital. Natembeya is accused of influencing tender awards and receiving kickbacks through proxies.
During the raid, a group of residents gathered outside Natembeya’s Milimani residence to protest the operation, leading to chaos. Five EACC vehicles were vandalised, and seized items were reportedly stolen. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has launched an investigation into the violent incident.
Governor Natembeya was not at his home during the search but was later arrested in Kilimani, Nairobi, and taken to EACC headquarters for questioning.
