The initial tender for the LBDA project was Sh2.5 billion, but by the time Oloo left the office, the authority had committed Sh3.8 billion, a variation of more than the 25 per cent permitted by the law.
EACC is probing the cost variation in the project and the decision by the authority to use a government agency to secure a loan from the Cooperative Bank without the Attorney General's authorisation.
Oloo said that no money had been paid by the authority by the time he left the office. He said he did not know who authorised the payments.
The speaker maintained his innocence and welcomed the investigations. He said the culprits should be arrested and prosecuted.
He told journalists that the detectives visited his Milimani house around 6.30am with search warrants.
He commended the officers for conducting themselves professionally. From Milimani, the EACC team proceeded to his Mamboleo house and to his county assembly office.
The search was done concurrently in his Nairobi house. "I asked them (family members) to give the officers unlimited access so that they can get whatever they want,” Oloo said.
The commission had in a May 21, 2019 letter asked the county assembly clerk to provide documents after complaints had been filed with the agency.
“For us to conduct an investigation to its logical conclusion, kindly but urgently provide all the original documents in relation to these projects,” reads part of the letter copied to the Siaya assembly speaker.
The commission also needs documents on the process of the purchase of land for the speaker’s residence, MCAs' trip to Uganda for training and the purchase of the county assembly mace.
Others include legal fees paid for interpretation of section 35 of the County Government Act.
The documents were to be made available on or before May 28.
Robert Apiny.
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