Five Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) managers have denied charges relating to the loss of Sh1.9 billion in the construction of the Kisumu Oil Jetty.
The five, Joe Sang (Managing Director), Gloria Khafafa (company secretary), Vincent Cheruiyot (GM supply chain management), Billy Aseka (general manager infrastructure) and Nicholas Gitobu (procurement manager) were charged with abuse of office, willful failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public funds and engaging in a project without prior planning.
Appearing before chief magistrate Douglas Ongoti, the five were released on a Sh2 million cash bail each. They are also required to execute a personal bond of Sh2 million or bond of Sh3 million with one surety of similar amount.
Their lawyer Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi argued that the charges were “not serious and generic.” The accused persons have been asked to deposit their passports in court. The case will be mentioned on January 22, 2019.
Outgoing Kenya Pipeline Managing director, Joe Sang, who is facing graft allegations, has been released on bail alongside four others.
The five were presented before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ongoti in Milimani Law Courts on Monday morning, December 10, 2019.
Sang and his counterparts denied all the charges placed against them including abuse of office and engaging in corruption during the construction of the Kisumu oil jetty.
They were released on Ksh2 million cash bail each and a bond of Ksh3 million with a surety of the same amount.
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During their hearing, their lawyer, Senior Council Ahmednasir Abdullahi, argued that the charges issued against them were not serious but generic.
This comes three days after they were arrested in Nairobi regarding a probe involving over Ksh1 billion fuel loss.
The other parties charged include Company Secretary Gloria Khafafa, Head of Procurement Vincent Cheruiyot, Procurement Manager Nicholas Gitobu and General Manager in charge of Infrastructure Billy Aseka.
Earlier on, Sang had announced his resignation as Managing Director once his term expired on April 2019 citing personal reasons.