EACC orders ELEVEN officials who served under Uhuru to surrender after arrest of Najib Balala
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EACC orders seven Tourism Fund officials and four directors who served under the administration of Uhuru Kenyatta to surrender
EACC orders seven Tourism Fund officials and four directors who served under the administration of Uhuru Kenyatta to surrender.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has ordered the surrender of 11 suspects who have not yet been placed under arrest in connection with the transfer of Sh8.5 billion to the Kilifi branch of Utalii College.
The officials are to immediately report to EACC headquarters at Integrity Centre.
Four directors of private companies connected to the payments and seven former officials of the Tourism Fund from the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta are among the accused.
Twalib Mbarak, the CEO of EACC, stated that suspects may also report to the closest EACC regional office for processing.
“The Commission remains firmly focused on its mandate and will continue to enforce the law against all persons engaging in embezzlement of public funds and other forms of corruption,” Mbarak said.
The 11 suspects wanted are;
Joseph Rotich Cherutoi (former Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Fund), Morris Njue (Director, Baseline Architects Limited), Dominic Motanya (Managing Director, Baseline Architects), Rebman Malala (Director, Ujenzi Consultant) and James Mwangi Wairagu (Director, Amitech Consulting Engineers).
Others are; Eden Odhiambo (former Director, Strategy and Resources, Tourism Fund), Ruth Sande (former Standard Development Manager, Tourism Fund), Joseph Karanja Ndungu (former – Procurement Manager, Tourism Fund), George Muya Njoroge (former Senior Levey Inspector, Tourism Fund), Norah Mukuna (former acting Procurement Manager, Tourism Fund) and Nancy Siboe (former Head of Legal, Tourism Fund).
EACC has so far arrested five out of 16 suspects and are to be charged with various offences and economic crimes.
The crimes relate to procurement fraud in the construction of the coast Branch of the Kenya Utalii College (renamed Ronald Ngala Utalii College) in Kilifi County.
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EACC noted that arrested persons who will be arraigned before the Anti-Corruption Court in Malindi, on December 22, 2023, include Najib Mohammed Balala (former Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism), Leah Adda Gwiyo (former Principal Secretary, Ministry of Tourism), Joseph Odero (Managing Partner, West Consult Engineers), Allan Wafula Chenane (former Chief Executive Officer, Tourism Fund) and Flora Ngina Ngonze (former ICT Manager, Tourism Fund).
EACC said the arrest comes after investigations undertaken by the Commission in regard to the payment of Sh8.5 Billion by the Ministry of Tourism.
The commission said Sh4 billion was fraudulently paid to a private company for consultancy services.
He said iInvestigations established that the Cabinet in its memo signed by the Minister for Tourism on 22nd May 2007 and Minister for Finance on 20th August 2007, approved the construction of Utalii College in Vipingo at Sh1.95 billion.
“However, the project cost was later inflated by Ministry Officials to Sh10.4 billion against the approved cost,” he added.
He said EACC submitted the investigation report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who upon independent review concurred with the recommendations of the Commission to charge the 16 persons suspects with various offences.
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