The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has launched investigations into Bungoma County over a controversial Ksh3.6 million Christmas tree lighting ceremony that sparked outrage among senators and taxpayers.
In a letter dated February 9, 2022, the commission wrote to the Bungoma County Secretary demanding crucial documents to facilitate investigations into suspected fraud and theft of public funds.
EACC Demands Documents in Christmas Tree Probe
According to the commission, the probe targets alleged fictitious imprest benchmarking trips by members of the County Assembly and senior county officials to Mbale, Uganda. Investigators are also examining the subsequent lighting of a Christmas tree at the governor’s office, an event reportedly costing millions of shillings.
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At the center of the controversy is the Ksh3.6 million Christmas tree ceremony flagged by the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC).
CPAC Chairperson Moses Kajwang’ raised concerns during a committee session, questioning why the county spent millions on a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in September 2019—months before the December holiday.
“So you spent Sh3.6 million for a Christmas tree celebration? Using Sh3.6 million for Christmas tree lighting in September? And it remains unaccounted for. If the money was drawn and used it should not have come here,” Kajwang’ said.
His remarks exposed glaring gaps in accountability.
Senators Question Timing and Accountability
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna challenged the timing of the imprest, noting that records show funds were drawn on September 9—approximately three months before Christmas. He argued that the discrepancy pointed to possible cover-ups and misuse of public funds.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei also criticized the expenditure, sarcastically questioning whether Bungoma County was operating under a different calendar by celebrating Christmas in September.
Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli told the committee that the event was ceremonial in nature, with participants reportedly wearing Christmas hats and tents erected at the governor’s office compound.
However, the explanations failed to calm the storm.
Governor Lusaka Distances Himself
Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka sought to distance himself from the audit query, telling the committee that the expenditure occurred in 2019 and should not be attributed to his administration.
“Chair, just for the record I know media will say it is me. It is in 2019, please Chair protect me,” Lusaka said.
Bungoma County Attorney Edward Waswa, on his part, claimed the expenditure was meant to facilitate certain activities, a position that differed from the documentation presented before the committee.
Kajwang’ questioned why the county attorney offered an interpretation different from that of the county secretary, who serves as custodian of official records. The contradictions deepened suspicion among lawmakers.
“This is a matter that is unethical. This is a matter that should go to EACC. It cannot be acceptable,” Kajwang’ insisted.
Stadium Project Raises Further Concerns
The Christmas tree scandal is not the only issue putting Bungoma County under pressure.
The Senate also raised concerns about the Masinde Muliro Stadium project. While county officials claimed the stadium was 95 percent complete, an audit inspection conducted in July 2025 painted a different picture.
Inspectors reportedly found that construction had stalled for over a year, with the contractor absent from the site. Structural defects were also noted on the external fence, including a section near the VIP entrance that had bent outward, creating a visible gap between the fence and the ground.
The defects raised safety concerns and prompted senators to question how the county could claim near completion while glaring issues remained unresolved.
Bungoma Under Intense Scrutiny
The combination of the stalled stadium project and the controversial Ksh3.6 million Christmas tree expenditure has placed Bungoma County under intense scrutiny.
EACC’s letter signals what could become a far-reaching investigation. If investigators establish that officials siphoned public funds through fictitious trips and inflated ceremonies, those responsible could face serious legal consequences.
Taxpayers in Bungoma now await answers on how millions left county accounts and whether value was delivered. The documents requested by EACC are expected to form the backbone of the probe.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on the Ksh3.6 million Christmas tree saga—an issue critics say symbolizes deeper governance challenges that demand accountability and reform.