As we celebrate anti-corruption day,Kenya has decided to give its citizens a big surprise with an extortion scandal that involves state House and the defence department.
Accused of shooting dead Mr Fredrick Majanga Lukhutsu in Irobo village in Kakamega County on September 15, Mr Mangala refused to proceed with the hearing because copies of witness statements and a ballistics report had not been given to him.
He objected while standing before Justice Jesse Njagi at the Kakamega High Court charged with the murder of a neighbour.
He however got his wish after the judge ordered the prosecution to supply him with the documents.
Little did he know that after parting with Sh2 million bond with two sureties, that detectives from Nairobi, who had been on his trail for weeks, were waiting to arrest him.
The image of Mr Mangala was later posted on the DCI Twitter account behind a board declaring his charge as “obtaining money by false pretence” contrary to section 313 of the Penal Code. It did not capture the gravity of the situation.
Mr Mangala’s case, the latest in a string of arrests in recent weeks, involves fake tenders believed to have been issued by suspected well-connected fraudsters inside some of the most guarded locations: State House, the Office of the Deputy President and the Department of Defence.
How the suspected fraudsters gained access to these facilities, occupied offices for some time, impersonated officials, lured their victims and had items worth millions of shillings delivered to them, remains the subject of investigation and court cases. Several insiders are thought to be part of the cartel.
According to reports, a group with suspected links to rogue staff at State House and DP’s Harambee House Annex lure wealthy business people with fake “restricted” tenders mostly on laptops.
The fake multi-millions tenders reportedly come with complete documentations and targeted victims are invited for meetings inside these government offices to win their confidence.
Mr Charles Gathii Ng’ang’a, a victim, is counting losses of at least Sh240 million after he was “awarded” fake tenders to supply computers to State House and the Department of Defence between January and September.
More than 10 people have so far filed separate complaints with the police after losing millions in fake tenders.
Some of those suspected to be behind the racket have been arrested and arraigned in court where they are facing charges of forgery and obtaining money by false pretence, while some cases are still being investigated.