The Judiciary/FILE
Several corruption-related cases involving former governors, senior public officials and private companies will be heard in courts across the country this week, according to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
The cases, scheduled between June 22 and June 26, include hearings, mentions and judgments in matters involving recovery of public funds, unexplained wealth, alleged procurement irregularities, abuse of office and illegally acquired public land worth billions of shillings.
Among the major cases lined up is a suit against former Murang’a Governor Francis Mwangi Wa Iria, Top Image Media Consultants and seven others.
The EACC is seeking recovery of Sh547 million allegedly paid to a company associated with the former governor through contracts awarded in conflict of interest.
The suit, which will be heard at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on June 22 and 23, also seeks recovery of two parcels of land alleged to have been purchased using proceeds of corrupt conduct.
"Former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, Testimony Enterprises and six others are expected in court on June 24," EACC stated.
The EACC is seeking recovery of Sh147 million arising from a road construction contract allegedly awarded through an irregular procurement process.
Kiambu Governor Paul Kimani Wamatangi and others are scheduled to appear before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on June 25 for mention of a suit seeking recovery of Sh813 million, which the commission alleges are proceeds of corruption.
The anti-graft agency will also continue pursuing a suit against Estama Investments Limited and others over the recovery of Sh800 million allegedly paid through an overvalued tender for the supply of 100 portable medical clinics to the Ministry of Health.
Another high-profile matter involves Benson Muteti Mutinda, a former Coast Regional Manager at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority, and six others.
The EACC is seeking recovery of alleged unexplained wealth amounting to Sh744 million.
Former Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Benjamin Obuya Njoga and 13 others will also appear before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.
They face charges including alleged abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property and money laundering linked to the alleged fraudulent acquisition of public property worth Sh301.9 million through payments for goods allegedly not supplied to the State Department for Correctional Services.
At the same time, former KEMRI director David Koech and another respondent are scheduled for mention of a suit seeking recovery of Sh556.3 million allegedly misappropriated during his tenure at the institution.
The commission is also pursuing recovery of Sh468.4 million from former employees of the National Museums of Kenya in a case involving alleged payments disguised as salaries to persons who were not employees of the institution.
Several county government officials and former public officers are also facing corruption-related charges this week.
These include Abdi Ibrahim Daar, MCA for Balambala Ward, and two others over alleged irregular payments of Sh51 million by the Garissa County Government, as well as former Chief Officer for Education, Vocational Training and Sports in Tana River County Mohamed Maalim Edin, who is charged with fraudulent acquisition of Sh3 million and abuse of office.
The courts will also hear cases involving alleged procurement irregularities at Kenya Pipeline Company, the upgrading of Kerenga Airstrip in Kericho County and procurement processes at Chania Girls High School.
In addition to corruption and economic crime cases, the EACC is awaiting judgments in two public land recovery suits.
The Environment and Land Court in Nakuru will deliver judgment in a case seeking recovery of land belonging to the Muslim Association of Nakuru that had been reserved for a mosque and a public primary school but was allegedly acquired by a private individual.
The Kitale Law Courts are also expected to deliver judgment in a suit seeking recovery of Kitale Municipality Block 12/153, an open space that the commission says was illegally allocated to a private individual.
Other land recovery matters scheduled for mention or hearing this week involve public property in Lang’ata, Nyeri and Nairobi, as the commission continues its efforts to recover assets allegedly lost through corruption and irregular allocations.
