One of the vehicle that was destroyed during the EACC raid.
Police have arrested 14 suspects in connection to acts of malicious damage to property and theft at the Kitale residence of Trans Nzoia County Governor George Natembeya.
The acts of lawlessness occured on the morning of May 19, 2025, when Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives, accompanied by police and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) officers, raided the home located in Milimani as part of investigations into alleged procurement irregularities and fraudulent payments totaling Sh1.4 billion during the 2022-23 and 2024-25 fiscal years.
The operation, which began around 7am, was conducted under court-issued search warrants.
Tensions escalated quickly when a large crowd of residents and supporters got wind of the raid and gathered outside the compound, accusing authorities of political intimidation.
The situation turned chaotic as angry youth vandalised and deflated the tires of at least eight EACC and police vehicles, barricaded roads, forcing officers to use tear gas to disperse the crowd and secure their exit.
Governor Natembeya was not present during the raid, as he was reportedly in Nairobi, where he was later arrested and taken to the EACC’s Integrity Centre for questioning.
The Director of Public Prosecutions ordered an investigation into the vandalism of government vehicles during the operation.
In a statement on Thursday, the DCI said a multi-agency team comprising local law enforcement officers in Trans Nzoia West, assisted by detectives from DCI Headquarters Operations Unit, conducted an operation that led to the arrest of 14 suspects.
They have all been taken to custody pending arraignment in relation to malicious damage to property and unlawfull obstruction of EACC officers from carrying out their official duties.
The DCI said the operation is still ongoing with efforts focused on apprehending more suspects, including financiers, facilitators and ring leaders behind the incident.
Some political leaders have condemned the accusations levelled against Natembeya as politically motivated even as the EACC maintained that the process is a lawful, evidence-driven anti-corruption effort.
