• Friday, 15 November 2024
EACC raid home of Nairobi county Assistant Director Urban Planning Fredrick Ochanda over fraud charges

EACC raid home of Nairobi county Assistant Director Urban Planning Fredrick Ochanda over fraud charges

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has carried out a targeted raid on a senior government official identified as Fredrick Ondari Ochanda. 

Ochanda, serving as the Assistant Director responsible for Development Control in the Built Environment and Urban Planning, came under scrutiny as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and fraud.

The operation, conducted on Friday, unfolded across multiple locations, including Ochanda's residences in Ngong, Kajiado County, and Suneka, Kisii County, as well as his offices within the Nairobi County Government.

The EACC, acting under court orders, executed the operation successfully, escorting Ochanda to their headquarters for questioning. 

Following the interrogation and statement recording process, Ochanda was released.

"Forfeiture of assets acquired through corruption is provided for under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003 (ACECA). The law provides that a public officer in possession of property whose value is disproportional to their known legitimate sources of income shall, unless the contrary is proved, be presumed to have acquired the property through corrupt conduct," said the EACC.

The focus of the investigation revolves around suspicions of Ochanda's involvement in corrupt practices within his department, leading to compromised standards in the grant of approvals for development control in Nairobi.

The EACC, through its spokesperson Eric Ngumbi, highlighted the gravity of the allegations, pointing to the accumulation of significant wealth by Ochanda that appears disproportionate to his known legitimate income sources.

Assets under scrutiny include cash holdings across multiple bank accounts, prime land parcels, commercial real estate properties, and luxury vehicles. The EACC emphasized that these assets could potentially be linked to corrupt activities, prompting the investigation to ascertain their origins.

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