EACC Charges Turkana County Conflict Interest: Nurse, Associate Face Fraud

• The EACC has arrested Gilbert Suleiman Eskuku, a Turkana County nurse, and Abass Abdi Yusuf, his business partner.
• They are accused of conflict of interest, money laundering, and acquiring proceeds of crime through irregular county contracts totaling Ksh2,763,681.
• Eskuku allegedly used Ekwang Suppliers, co-directed with Yusuf, to secure contracts from his employer between 2017 and 2021.
• The Director of Public Prosecutions has approved their prosecution, with arraignment set for October 15, 2026.
• The EACC will also pursue civil proceedings to recover public funds and seek forfeiture of assets acquired through illegal means.

The EACC's proactive measures, including both criminal charges and civil asset recovery, signal a heightened enforcement environment aimed at safeguarding public resources and upholding integrity in governance.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has taken action against a Turkana County Government employee and his business associate, alleging a significant conflict of interest in the awarding of public contracts. Gilbert Suleiman Eskuku, a registered nurse employed by the county, was arrested alongside Abass Abdi Yusuf, who is his co-director at Ekwang Suppliers Company Limited. These arrests stem from an investigation into alleged irregular contract awards by the County Government of Turkana to Ekwang Suppliers between 2017 and 2021.

EACC's findings indicate that Mr. Eskuku, while actively serving as a county employee, utilized Ekwang Suppliers Company Limited—a firm in which he held a directorship alongside Mr. Yusuf—to secure and receive payments for contracts from the very county government that employed him. The total value of these payments, now under scrutiny for Turkana county contract fraud, amounts to Ksh2,763,681. Further investigations revealed that Mr. Eskuku allegedly made immediate cash withdrawals of these funds, a move suspected to be an attempt to conceal the origin of the money.

Following the conclusion of its detailed investigation, the EACC submitted its inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP subsequently reviewed the evidence and approved the prosecution of both Gilbert Suleiman Eskuku and Abass Abdi Yusuf, as well as their company, Ekwang Suppliers. The accused individuals and the company are set to face a range of serious charges, including conflict of interest, money laundering, and the acquisition of proceeds of crime.

The two suspects are currently undergoing processing at the EACC North Rift Regional Office located in Eldoret. Their arraignment before the Anti-Corruption Court is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026. Beyond these criminal proceedings, the Commission has also indicated its intention to initiate civil proceedings. These civil actions will aim to recover the public funds that were allegedly misappropriated and will also seek public officer asset forfeiture Kenya for any assets found to have been acquired through the proceeds of the alleged criminal activities. This demonstrates the EACC's dual approach to combating corruption through both criminal prosecution and civil recovery.

This case underscores the EACC's aggressive stance against corruption and conflict of interest within public service, particularly in county governments. The Commission has issued a strong directive to all state organs and public entities, urging them to enhance their adherence to the Kenya Conflict of Interest Act 2025, which was enacted on July 30, 2025, and came into force on August 19, 2025. This call emphasizes the critical need for public bodies to establish and implement robust mechanisms for the declaration, diligent management, and effective prevention of conflicts of interest among their public officers.

The EACC charges Turkana county conflict interest case serves as a stark reminder of the legal and financial repercussions for public officials who exploit their positions for personal gain. The prosecution of Gilbert Suleiman Eskuku EACC and Abass Abdi Yusuf Ekwang Suppliers for EACC money laundering prosecution highlights the comprehensive nature of the charges that can be brought against individuals involved in such schemes. The EACC's proactive measures, including both criminal charges and civil asset recovery, signal a heightened enforcement environment aimed at safeguarding public resources and upholding integrity in governance.

Compliance officers in Kenyan public entities, especially county governments, must immediately review and strengthen their conflict of interest policies and declaration mechanisms in light of the EACC's aggressive enforcement and the upcoming Conflict of Interest Act, 2025. Lawyers advising public officials or companies contracting with the government should counsel clients on strict adherence to conflict of interest rules to avoid criminal prosecution, civil recovery, and asset forfeiture.

Source: Original reporting via the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.