The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has dismissed allegations that it is responsible for the stagnation of the Isiolo Stadium project, a multi-million-shilling initiative that has remained incomplete since its launch in 2019.
Appearing before a Senate committee, EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud categorically denied claims that the commission ordered a halt to the stadium’s construction due to ongoing investigations into alleged corruption.
“We did not stop any project. If any governor said we stopped a project because there is an ongoing investigation, that is not the truth,” said Mohamud. “EACC cannot be the cause of stalled development.”
The controversy stems from earlier remarks by Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo, who cited active EACC investigations into suspected corruption and misuse of funds as the reason for withholding further county allocations to the stadium project.
“When I assumed office, I found that the stadium project was under EACC investigation,” Governor Guyo stated. “I decided I will not involve myself or allocate any funds to the project until EACC completes its probe.”
However, recent findings from the Office of the Auditor General appear to contradict the governor’s assertions.
The Auditor General’s report indicates that the County Government of Isiolo allocated Ksh 300 million to the stadium in the 2022/2023 financial year, despite Governor Guyo’s claims of funding suspension.
The report further highlights serious financial irregularities in the project’s management, noting that of the Ksh 300 million allocated during the said fiscal year, Ksh 120 million was misappropriated.
Additionally, there are unexplained discrepancies amounting to Ksh 90 million.
The Auditor General pointed to poor oversight, lack of accountability, and the apparent abandonment of the project as key concerns.
Since the project’s inception in 2019, a cumulative total of Ksh 900 million has been allocated to the Isiolo Stadium, yet it remains incomplete and non-functional, raising red flags over fiscal prudence and project governance.
As scrutiny deepens over stalled development and mismanagement of public resources in Isiolo County, the ongoing standoff between county leadership and oversight agencies continues to delay the long-awaited completion of the stadium.
The public now awaits the outcome of the EACC’s investigation and further action from relevant accountability institutions to ensure justice and transparency in the use of taxpayer funds.
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