Bungoma High Court Rules in Favour of EACC Moves to Save Matili College
EACC Moves to Save Matili College from Sh17 Million Fraud Scheme has drawn nationwide attention, highlighting the delicate intersection between corruption, justice, and public accountability. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s decisive intervention in Bungoma County has revived public confidence that Kenya’s anti-graft institutions can still disrupt elaborate fraud networks targeting taxpayer-funded institutions. For Matili Technical Training Institute, the case represents not just a legal dispute, but a fight for survival against a scheme that nearly wiped out years of institutional progress.
Investigations by the Commission revealed that a construction company, which had completed its contracted works at the institution years ago, had already received full payment by 2017. However, in a surprising twist, the same company filed a new claim in 2020, alleging that Matili College owed it an additional Sh17 million. Relying on court documentation that the EACC later proved to be falsified, the firm managed to secure a favorable judgment. This led to an attempt to auction the college’s assets—including generators, computers, and even student food supplies—before the Commission stepped in to halt the process.
EACC Moves demonstrates how vulnerable Kenya’s public institutions can be to legal exploitation. The ease with which fraudulent claims can navigate court systems has alarmed transparency advocates, who argue that procedural blind spots and weak document verification allow such schemes to thrive. Without EACC’s rapid intervention, Matili College could have lost essential equipment, jeopardizing training programs that serve hundreds of young Kenyans seeking technical skills. More on Transparency International Kenya.
The Commission now wants the High Court to reopen the case, arguing that the judgment was based on deception and hidden facts. Its petition contends that justice should not favor finality over fairness—especially when the evidence reveals deliberate fraud. The case, now set for ruling in February 2026, is expected to test the limits of judicial accountability in cases involving corruption-linked decisions.
At its core, it exposes more than an isolated act of corruption—it highlights how systemic weaknesses in project management and record-keeping create fertile ground for abuse. Anti-corruption analysts note that public institutions, particularly those outside major cities, often lack the administrative capacity to track financial documentation across multiple fiscal years. This makes it easier for dishonest contractors to reintroduce old claims or inflate project costs long after completion. Source: The Star Kenya.
Legal experts observing the case have pointed out that while Kenya’s court system emphasizes finality of judgments, corruption cases involving newly discovered evidence present a unique challenge. The law allows for the reopening of concluded matters when there is clear proof of fraud. In Matili’s case, the EACC’s evidence shows that invoices, receipts, and work certificates were manipulated to create the illusion of an outstanding debt—a revelation that could alter how future corruption-related suits are treated by Kenyan courts.
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The case mirrors previous controversies such as the 2022 scandal involving a secondary school in Kakamega, where contractors attempted to claim payment for nonexistent infrastructure projects. Similarly, in 2023, a Nairobi-based TVET institution narrowly avoided auction after the EACC uncovered fake debt records amounting to Sh8 million. The recurrence of such schemes reveals a worrying pattern: contractors exploiting bureaucratic delays and court technicalities to extort funds from public entities.
In that context, EACC action becomes not just a localized issue but a test of institutional resilience across Kenya’s educational sector. If the Commission successfully sets aside the fraudulent judgment, it could empower other institutions to challenge dubious claims and strengthen oversight mechanisms in future procurement contracts. More details: Kenya Judiciary.
The attempted auction of Matili College’s property sent shockwaves through the education sector. Administrators warned that the seizure of core assets such as training tools, vehicles, and computers would have crippled learning activities. For many students, especially those from rural areas, the college serves as a critical gateway to employable skills. Had the fraud succeeded, hundreds of trainees would have been forced to suspend studies, and the college’s reputation would have been permanently damaged.
EACC Moves to Save Matili College from Sh17 Million Fraud Scheme thus stands as a symbolic battle for the soul of Kenya’s technical education system. Public trust in TVET institutions has often been fragile, eroded by mismanagement, delayed funding, and corruption in infrastructure projects. The EACC’s action demonstrates that even when graft penetrates deep into administrative or legal frameworks, it can still be countered with evidence-driven intervention and legal persistence.
“The EACC’s swift intervention proves that even deeply entrenched corruption can be countered when institutions act decisively and with evidence.”
Beyond Matili, education advocates argue for a nationwide audit of stalled or disputed construction projects in learning institutions. They suggest the creation of a digital verification platform linking the EACC, Auditor-General, and the National Treasury to authenticate project payments in real time. Such a system would make it difficult for fraudulent claims to surface years after a project’s completion.
For residents of Bungoma and the broader Western region, the case has taken on a personal dimension. Many view it as a struggle between integrity and impunity—a rare instance where a public watchdog has acted before irreparable damage occurred. The Commission’s swift response has earned praise from civil society groups, who now call for similar vigilance across all public projects, particularly those financed through Constituency Development Funds (CDFs).
The Matili case reinforces one of Kenya’s most persistent governance dilemmas: how to balance the autonomy of the judiciary with the need to correct unjust rulings rooted in deceit. While legal purists warn that reopening finalized cases could weaken judicial finality, anti-corruption advocates counter that the greater danger lies in allowing fraud to stand unchallenged. The EACC’s decision to intervene reflects an evolving philosophy of governance—where institutions must prioritize integrity over rigid adherence to procedure when justice is clearly at stake.
Governance experts note that Kenya’s anti-corruption framework has matured significantly in the past decade, yet practical enforcement remains uneven. Cases like this demonstrate the necessity for inter-agency coordination between the EACC, Office of the Attorney General, and the Judiciary to ensure that corruption does not find refuge in legal complexity. The Commission’s proactive posture in Matili may serve as a model for future interventions involving fraudulently obtained court judgments. Reference: The Standard.
There is also an ethical lesson for public officials and contractors alike. Transparency International’s 2024 Kenya Corruption Perceptions Report identified procurement fraud as one of the top three threats to public integrity. The report warned that unless institutions strengthen verification processes and establish continuous auditing systems, similar incidents will persist. The Matili College case therefore serves as both a warning and a precedent—showing that institutional courage, when paired with investigative rigor, can protect public resources from predatory actors.
As the February 2026 ruling approaches, all eyes remain on the Bungoma High Court. Whether the original judgment will be overturned or upheld, the impact of EACC Moves to Save Matili College from Sh17 Million Fraud Scheme has already extended far beyond Bungoma. It has reignited public debate about how deeply corruption is embedded in Kenya’s systems, and whether decisive institutional collaboration can finally dismantle it.
This article was prepared by the Ramsey Focus Analysis Desk, based on verified reports, independent analysis, and insights to ensure balanced coverage.
