The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) in Tanzania has secured court orders to preserve land and six vehicles linked to Peter Muriithi Nyaga, a member of the Embu County Assembly. The orders were granted pending the determination of an asset recovery suit over allegations that Nyaga's family-linked companies received Sh111.5 million in county contracts. The High Court barred Nyaga and six companies from selling, transferring, charging, or disposing of the assets.
According to EACC, the dispute concerns 20 road construction and maintenance contracts awarded by the Embu County Government between 2017/18 and 2023/24. Five companies associated with Nyaga, his son, and his wife received Sh111.5 million. Nyaga represents Mbeti North Ward and served on Assembly committees dealing with infrastructure and public works. EACC alleges that Nyaga was a director and sole bank signatory of Truco Enterprises Ltd and Peanco Ltd, alongside his son.
The commission also alleges that Nyaga's wife owned or controlled Njewaco Ltd, Hasoco Ltd, and Hiwco Ltd and was the sole signatory to their accounts. EACC claims that the payments were used to purchase land parcel Mbeti/Kiamuringa/49, registered to Isaac & Timothy Company Ltd on June 10, 2019, for Sh9 million. The land and six vehicles registered to Nyaga are among the assets targeted by the preservation orders.
Nyaga and the companies have denied wrongdoing, stating that the contracts were lawfully and competitively awarded, and the work was completed. They also claimed that the assets were bought using business income and bank loans. The defendants argued that the companies were separate legal entities, and EACC had not shown that Nyaga influenced procurement decisions made by the county executive.
In his ruling, Justice Joseph Biomdo found that EACC had established a case requiring asset preservation. He noted that if the defendants were to dispose of the properties, EACC would have no assets to recover in furtherance of its statutory mandate should the main suit succeed. However, the judge allowed supervised commercial use of the vehicles, prohibiting sale, transfer, assignment, charging, or other disposal.
The court directed the Land Registrar and NTSA to restrict the land title and vehicle logbooks. The defendants must insure all six vehicles and file proof in court within 30 days. They must also install GPS tracking devices at their own cost and give EACC real-time access. The parties are required to conduct bi-monthly physical inspections, and the defendants must file sworn quarterly reports detailing location, contract use, and maintenance.
The ruling follows an earlier forfeiture case involving Nyaga and three of the same vehicles, which was dismissed by the High Court in November 2025. EACC's case is different, concerning 20 county contracts worth Sh111.5 million and tracing their proceeds to the assets. Justice Biomdo identified whether the new suit was barred by the earlier judgment as an issue for trial, but ordered preservation pending determination of EACC's recovery claim.
Key points
- EACC secures court orders to preserve assets linked to Embu County Assembly member Peter Muriithi Nyaga over allegations of corruption.
- The assets targeted by the preservation orders include land and six vehicles registered to Nyaga.
- Nyaga and the companies have denied wrongdoing, stating that the contracts were lawfully and competitively awarded.
