- The Magistrate ordered Norah Mukuna, Eden Odhiambo, Ruth Sande and George Njoroge be released on Sh300,000 cash bail or Sh750,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount.
- The case will be mentioned on January 11, 2024.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
Nine more suspects linked to Sh8.5 billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College saga have been arraigned in a Malindi court where they denied corruption allegations.
The suspects appeared before Malindi Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki and denied the charges levelled against them.
Those charged were Alan Chenane , Joseph Rotich, Norah Mukuna, Eden Odhiambo , Ruth Sande, Nancy Siboe, George Njoroge , Morris Njue, Dominic Motanya, Rebman Malala and James Mwangi.
Flora Ngonze and Joseph Ndung’u, were not present in court including one suspect who was alleged to have moved to Europe five years ago and got married there and another one who is yet to be found.
Chenane was charged that between July 1, 2012, and June 30, 2013, at Catering Tourism and Development Levy Trustees Offices within Nairobi County being the CEO allegedly failed to comply with the law regarding to procurement procedures by allegedly approving payment of Sh159, 361,444 which was not within the approved budget for financial year 2012/2013.
The court heard that the former CEO allegedly approved the payment for consultancy services for the design, documentation, supervision and contract Management of the proposed Ronald Ngala Utalii College and Tender Number CDLT/MW/a for Construction of the College.
The former CEO was also charged with allegedly failing to comply with the law relating to procurement regulations in respect to the quest for consultancy services, for the design, documentation, supervision, and contract management of the proposed RNUC.
Also charged was Joseph Cherutoi who is alleged that on July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016, at Catering and tourism and Development Levy Trustees offices within Nairobi being the CEO allegedly approved payment of Sh524, 532,920 which was not within the approved budget for consultancy services of RNUC.
Norah Mukuna was also charged that on November 23, 2012, at Catering and Development Levy Trustees offices being the Procurement Manager allegedly failed to comply with the procurement procedures for the same project.
Morris Njue, Dominic Motanya, who are directors of Baseline Architect were also charged that between May 15, 2012, and February 28, 2022, jointly unlawfully, allegedly acquired public property worth Sh623,722,581 from tourism funds by raising fee notes consulting amount which were in excess for the works done at the RNUC.
The increase in fees resulted to excess payments being made by the tourism fund.
Another suspect charged included Rebman Malala the owner of Ujenzi Consulting who was accused of unlawfully acquiring Sh517,384,217 from Tourism Fund by allegedly raising the fees for consulting for the RNUC.
James Mwangi the owner of Armitech Consulting Engineers was charged with unlawfully acquiring public property amounting to Sh49,886, 175 from Tourism fund by allegedly raising consultancy fees which was in excess to the work done for consultancy services for the RNUC.
All the suspects denied the charges made against them.
The Magistrate ordered Norah Mukuna, Eden Odhiambo, Ruth Sande and George Njoroge be released on Sh300,000 cash bail or Sh750,000 bond with a surety of a similar amount.
He also ordered Allan Chenane and Joseph Rotich to be released on a cash bail of Sh600,000 or Sh2 million bond with a surety of a similar amount.
Others were Morris Gitonga, Dominic Motanya, and Rebman Malala were also released on Sh3 million bond with a surety of a similar amount or cash bail Sh800,000
The case will be mentioned on January 11, 2024.