Former Principal Secretary for Sports Development Amb. Peter Kirimi Kaberia is among six suspects arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over an alleged irregular Ksh.1.5 billion tender linked to preparations for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) hosted in Kenya.
The EACC says the contract, valued at USD15.89 million, was awarded in 2017 by the then State Department for Sports Development in the Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts to M/s Auditel Kenya, a Spanish company registered in Kenya.
The tender involved the supply and installation of security systems, access-control and communication equipment, audio-visual systems and pitch-lighting infrastructure at various stadia ahead of the continental tournament.
According to the anti-corruption agency, investigations established that an advance payment of USD3.15 million, approximately Ksh.330 million, was made to the company under a contract that was allegedly not procured in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
“The company subsequently failed to fulfil its contractual obligations, resulting in the loss of KES 330 million in public funds.
The EACC further alleges that the funds were subsequently transferred through various entities in an effort to conceal their source and facilitate their movement back to Kenya.
Following the conclusion of investigations, the Commission forwarded its inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved the prosecution of public officials, company directors and other individuals linked to the matter.
The six suspects arrested on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, are Peter Kirimi Kaberia, former Principal Secretary in the State Department for Sports Development; Stephen Njoroge Muthuma, Senior Principal Finance Officer at the Ministry of Education; John Kiende Ruga, Senior Superintendent Engineer at Sports Kenya; Samuel Mbaa Njoroge, Tax Advisor and Partner at Taxwise Africa Consulting LLP; Enock Ndwori Onditi, former Principal Accountant in the State Department for Sports Development; and Anthony Mwangi Kimathi, a former employee of Instalaciones Inabensa S.A.
The suspects are expected to be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court at Milimani, Nairobi. They face charges including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering and abuse of office.
The EACC has also directed four other individuals to present themselves immediately at Integrity Centre or the nearest EACC office for processing.
They include Harun Komen Chebet, former Director of Administration at the State Department for Sports Development; Marcos Gonzalez Puente, Director of Auditel Ingenieria Y Servicios; Kitheka Muge, former Audit Committee Member of Football Kenya Federation (FKF); and Ephraim Muchangi Kinyua, an automobile business consultant.
“The Commission has instituted civil proceedings seeking the recovery and forfeiture of public funds and assets alleged to have been acquired through proceeds of crime arising from the matter.”
The case now puts renewed focus on the financial and procurement decisions made during Kenya’s preparations for the 2018 CHAN tournament, with the EACC pursuing both criminal prosecution and recovery of the funds and assets allegedly connected to the matter.
