EACC arrests nine over alleged Sh1.57 billion PROFIT Programme Fraud

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested nine individuals over allegations of fraudulent disbursement and embezzlement of Sh1.57 billion through the Rural Outreach of Financial Innovations and Technologies (PROFIT) Programme. The programme, run by the National Treasury with funding from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), aimed to provide small-scale farmers with affordable financing from 2013/2014 to 2023/2024.

The EACC found that Sh1,569,582,338.20 was fraudulently transferred from the National Treasury Development Account to private entities, businesses and companies for goods and services that were never supplied. Programme officials allegedly used false documents, opened an unauthorized KCB Bank account and laundered stolen funds, with some suspects allegedly laundering the money in cash.

The EACC also discovered financial connections between the suspects and the private entities that received the funds, breaching public financial management and accountability rules. Prosecutors approved charges of unlawful acquisition of public property, abuse of office, money laundering and more against 20 individuals. Suspects include John Ngure Kabutha, Namwel Moturi Motanya, John Maina Muriithi and Gladys Juliet Oroni.

The suspects are due to appear at Milimani Law Courts on August 19, 2026, and the EACC will pursue the recovery and forfeiture of any public funds and assets acquired illegally.