Twenty-two (22) former and current MCAs and staff of the County Assembly of Bungoma have been summoned to appear at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in the ongoing probe into claims of fraud and theft of public funds through a fake benchmarking trip to Uganda ahead of the lighting of a Christmas tree at the Governor’s Office in 2019.

The total cost to taxpayers for both activities is Sh6, 569, 000.

Those summoned to appear before the commission includes: Joan Lutukai, Everlyne Mutiembu, Joan Kirong, Francis Masai, Stephen Wamalwa, The late James Mukhongo, Florence Fulano, Joseph Juma, Jack Wambulwa, Hillary Kiplatum, Eric Wapang’ana, Henry Majimbo, Violet Makhanu, Luke Opwora, Tony Barasa, and Sospeter Nyongesa.

Others are Francis Tome (Principal clerk assistant), Ignatius Wangila (Principal legal counsel), Benedict Wafula (Commissionaire), Ken Taraja (driver) , Caroline Akirapa (Hansard Officer) and John Mosongo (former County Assembly Clerk).

The Bungoma County Assembly officials have been ordered to present themselves before detectives at the EACC Western Regional Office in Bungoma on diverse dates from 26 February 2026 to 9 March 2026.

This comes weeks after the Senate County Public Accounts Committee (CPAC) raised questions over a Sh3.6 million expenditure on a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in September 2019 and flagged serious defects at the Masinde Muliro Stadium project.

During a committee session, CPAC Chairperson Moses Kajwang’ questioned how the county spent Sh3.6 million on lighting a Christmas tree months before December, saying the expenditure remained unaccounted for.

“So you spent Sh3.6 million for the 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.

The senators questioned the justification for the spending, with Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei remarking that Christmas is traditionally celebrated in December and jokingly suggesting the county may have been following a different calendar.

Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli told the committee the event was held in a ceremonial manner, with participants wearing Christmas hats and tents erected at the governor’s office compound.

Governor Ken Lusaka sought to distance himself from the audit query, telling the committee the expenditure related to 2019 and urging members not to attribute it to him.

Addressing the Senate audit queries, former Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati explained that the controversial Sh3.6 million imprest was unrelated to the county executive and had been misrepresented.

He said the money was meant to facilitate a benchmarking trip by members of the Bungoma County Assembly to Mbale, Uganda, in September 2019.

“Listening carefully to the Senate proceedings, it was clear that the County Attorney was ready to explain the issue, but unfortunately, the committee chair Senator Kajwang’, did not allow him sufficient time,” Wangamati said.

He explained that the imprest was issued and cashed by the then deputy clerk of the County Assembly, Francis Tome and paid to MCAs who were members of the Public Service Management Committee that undertook the trip.

“That committee was chaired by former Kabuyefwe/Naitiri MCA Joan Lutakai. Among the beneficiaries were the current Majority Leader Joseph Nyongesa and the Deputy Speaker, who were committee members at the time,” he said.

Wangamati insisted he had no direct involvement in the disbursement of the funds and termed attempts to link him to the payment as malicious and politically motivated.

“It is the responsibility of the County Assembly or the County Government of Bungoma to demand accountability from Francis Tome,” he said.

He added, “Anyone trying to drag the executive into that imprest issue is engaging in propaganda,”

He also questioned the logic of claims that the money was intended for a Christmas tree.

“Even if it were for a Christmas tree, for God’s sake, can you buy a Christmas tree in September for an event in December? It doesn’t make sense at all,” he said.

The former governor took a swipe at Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli, accusing him of failing in his oversight role.

“Oversight is the duty of both the County Assembly and the Senator. The imprest issue is minor and should have been handled institutionally,” Wangamati stated.