Police Launch Manhunt for Former Meru Governor Peter Munya

An anti-corruption court in Nairobi has ordered the arrest of former Meru Governor Peter Munya after he failed to show up to testify in the Arror and Kimwarer corruption scandal.

Despite a 90-minute window given by the court on Thursday, Munya failed to make an appearance. Thus, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations was directed to take over by detaining and presenting him in court. Responding to the time limit, officers in Nairobi initiated a rigorous search to find Munya.

"I order Munya to present himself in court by 11:15 a.m. His warrant of arrest still stands," Magistrate Nyutu ordered.

Munya is under investigation in the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwaer dam corruption case against former Treasury CS Henry Rotich. Despite Munya's lawyer denying he is in hiding, a warrant of arrest has been ordered by the magistrate and is to be executed by the police. Encompassed by allegations of corruption during the tendering process, the construction of the dams scheduled for completion at the end of 2017 has yet to commence.

The former Director of Public Prosecution had claimed that the Kenyan government did not follow proper procurement procedures when awarding contracts which allowed for corruption to occur. As a result, in 2020, the High Court ordered the prosecution of top government officials including former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, over the scandal.  

On August 23, former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya was interrogated by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, along with his wives, due to accusations of embezzling Sh 1.3 billion during his two terms as governor of the county. The commission of anti-graft said that current inquiries have uncovered that public funds were obtained illegally through intermediaries and allies during Oparanya’s administration.