The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Esther Wanjiru Chege, an assistant accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), over allegations of amassing more than Ksh38 million in unexplained wealth.
Wanjiru was apprehended on Friday, May 2, alongside three other individuals. The arrests follow investigations into suspicious tender awards to companies reportedly owned by her close relatives.
According to EACC, Wanjiru allegedly used her influence at KeRRA to direct public contracts to firms linked to her husband and brother. One such company, Reswan Enterprises Limited, was run under her brother’s and a business partner’s names, yet its bank accounts were managed by Wanjiru herself.
Other implicated firms include Rokays Enterprise Ltd, Reswan Holdings Ltd, and Kaydtech Enterprises Ltd—all reportedly under the ownership of Wanjiru’s husband. These businesses secured multiple tenders while Wanjiru served in various KeRRA regional offices.
The anti-corruption agency handed over the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who approved charges ranging from conflict of interest to unlawful acquisition of public property and conspiracy to commit economic crimes. The suspects appeared before the Kajiado Law Courts on Tuesday, where they pleaded not guilty.
In addition to the criminal charges, EACC is pursuing a civil case seeking to recover Ksh38.6 million in assets they believe are disproportionate to Wanjiru’s earnings. The commission noted that her salary rose from Ksh49,580 in 2016 to Ksh116,640 by 2022—amounts that fall far short of explaining her accumulated wealth.
The court will issue directions regarding bail and bond on Friday, May 9, 2025.
Image caption: EACC officials during a press briefing about the arrest of KeRRA official Esther Wanjiru Chege.
