The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa to appear on Tuesday, August 27, to address allegations of defrauding a businesswoman of Ksh. 2 million. Barasa is accused of soliciting the money with the promise of influencing the award of government tenders to the unnamed businesswoman. However, since December 2023, after receiving the funds, Barasa has allegedly cut off communication with the woman and avoided her attempts to reach him.
The EACC, in a letter dated August 21, 2024, highlighted that Barasa had previously failed to attend a summon on August 14, 2024, to record a statement. The commission has now scheduled a second opportunity for Barasa to respond to the allegations, requiring him to appear at their offices at Integrity Centre, Nairobi, on August 27, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. The EACC warned that failure to appear could result in the inquiry proceeding without his input, potentially leading to recommendations being made in his absence.
The commission alleges that Barasa, as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Roads Committee, promised to secure road tenders for the businesswoman in exchange for the Ksh. 2 million, which he requested as “a show of commitment and readiness to receiving the tenders.” The businesswoman deposited the money into Barasa’s bank account on December 13, 2023. However, after the transfer, Barasa reportedly became unresponsive, and the complainant later discovered that no road construction tenders had been advertised as promised.
In response to the summons, Barasa denied the allegations, claiming that the money was a soft loan from a fellow politician who had unsuccessfully run for governor. He argued that the EACC was overstepping its bounds by involving itself in what he described as a civil matter, asserting that the transaction was a personal loan and not related to any corrupt activity. Barasa indicated that he would not attend the EACC summons in person but would send his lawyer instead.
