Do you trust that justice will be delivered to Kenya in the corruption scandals that are lining up in the Kenyan courts? Investigations and exposes have already been made and now Kenyans eagerly await to see actual prosecutions to believe that the government is truly serious on the graft war.
NHIF suspects arrested over Sh1.1 billion graft on Monday denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti. The 18 suspects are being held at the Milimani law courts cells awaiting a ruling on their bail application.
While opposing their release on bail, Deputy DPP Emily Kamau termed the offences serious economic crimes. Kamau told the court that people died because of lack of NHIF cover because their money was stolen.
However, their lawyer Cliff Ombetta said there is no charge of anyone having died.
State counsel Victor Owiti asked the court to bar the suspects from accessing their offices so as not to interfere with investigations and witnesses.
He asked the court to give terms that are commensurate to the amount lost.
At NHIF, Sh1.1 billion was lost through dubious contracts issued to Webtribe Limited through single sourcing without prior planning.
Two former (NHIF) bosses Geoffrey Gitau Mwangi and Simeon ole Kirgotty and Webtribe Limited directors Danson Muchemi and Robert Muriithi in court today were facing Sh1.1 billion fraud charges relating to flawed contracts alongside 19 others.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) says the contract was fraudulently awarded to Muchemi’s company for Integrated Revenue Collection Services.
Some of the charges are flouting Section 45(2)(c) of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003, abuse of office and willful failure to comply with public procurement laws.
Meanwhile Kenya Pipeline Company MD Joe Sang and four co-accused have been released on a Sh2 million cash bail each. They all denied graft and abuse of office charges in the Sh1.8 billion Kisumu oil jetty contract scandal.
They were arraigned at the anti-corruption court on Monday to and charged with abuse of office, failure to comply with applicable procedures and law and engaging in a project without prior planning.
Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti also ordered them to deposit their passports in court.