After celebrating the anti corruption day, Kenya is now ready to nail 27 managers who have allegedly facilitated massive loss of millions through dubious ways at National Insurer NHIF.
And in court today, both Kirgotty and Mwangi will face abuse of office charges, economic crimes and willful failure to adhere to public procurement laws. In 2014, Kirgotty, Mwangi (then General Manager Finance and investments), Ruth Sudoi Makallah (legal manager) and Pamela Nyaboke Marendi (procurement manager) allegedly engaged in a project without prior planning and committing economic crimes by procuring Webtribe services at a cost of Sh49 million.
Other members of the tender evaluation committee: Irene Rono, Jacinta Nyakio, Kennedy Arthur and Fredrick Sagwe flouted procurement laws by approving tender number NHIF/018/2013-2014.
Kirgotty and Mwangi signed the letter of award to Webtribe on August 15, 2014 to “improperly confer a benefit to M/S Webtribe,” investigations showed.
Between August 2014 and June 2017, Kirgotty is accused of irregularly authorising payments worth Sh545 million to Muchemi’s firm. During the same period, he affected payments to the same firm amounting to Sh595 million for integrated revenue collection.
And on September 6, 2017, Mwangi fraudulently paid a total of Sh128 million to Webtribe. On February 13, Mwangi advanced already flagged additional Sh125 million for the same services and another Sh253 million in a span of one year.
Before allegations of blocking investigations into graft at the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) dimmed his rising star, Mr Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi, 48, had become a go-to man for church leaders raising money for various causes.
In Kenya, regular participation in community fundraisers is a sure betrayal of political ambitions and word in Nakuru was that he is a gubernatorial seat hopeful come 2022.
So far the road for Mr Mwangi has been paved with silk, rising from an altar boy in Kamwaura, Molo constituency in Nakuru County, struggling through school as his parents are peasant farmers; getting introduced to Nairobi life in a one-roomed unit in Githurai in 1998 and rising through the ranks to become the NHIF chief executive in 2016.
From here however realizing his ambitions have turned into his worst nightmare.
Do you think Mwangi will change or the money he has tasted has turned him for good?