22 Politicians Summoned as Sh65M Vanishes in Bungoma

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has officially pulled the trigger on a massive investigation that threatens to decapitate the political leadership of Bungoma County. Twenty-two politicians, comprising a mix of current and former Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), have been summoned to account for a staggering Sh65 million that has vanished into a bureaucratic black hole.

This is not just another audit query; it is a full-scale forensic assault on what investigators believe was a sophisticated syndicate operating within the walls of the County Assembly. The “Bungoma 22” are accused of presiding over a systematic looting scheme where public funds, intended for development and oversight, were allegedly diverted into private pockets through ghost projects and fraudulent reimbursement claims.

The twisted reality of this scandal lies in the sheer scale of the betrayal. While the residents of Bungoma grapple with dilapidated infrastructure and underfunded services, their elected representatives were reportedly treating the county treasury like a personal ATM. The EACC’s move signals a departure from slow-moving probes, opting instead for a high-velocity summons that demands immediate accountability.

Sources close to the investigation suggest that the Sh65 million is merely the tip of the iceberg. The summons are designed to break the “code of silence” that has long protected local political elites. For the 22 suspects, the walls are closing in.

If they fail to provide a water-tight defense for the missing millions, they face not only the loss of their seats but also a permanent exit from the political arena via the gates of a maximum-security prison.

The urgency of this purge has sent shockwaves through Western Kenya, serving as a grim warning to other regional assemblies. The EACC has made its stance clear: the era of negotiated corruption is over. As the “Bungoma 22” prepare to face the investigators, the public is left wondering how many more millions have been bled from the county while the watchdogs were supposedly asleep.