Over the years, Joshua Kulei represented ex-President Moi in over 50 companies operating in Kenya, across all sectors of the economy.
In 2010 Joshua Kulei and former lands commissioner Wilson Gachanja were charged with conspiracy to defraud the Kenya Pipeline Company.
They were joined in the dock by former pipeline managing director Ezekiel Komen, ex-Kenya Airports Authority boss Peter Langat, businessman Prakash Bhundia and three companies, one of which is associated with Mr Kulei.
However, only Mr Kulei, Mr Langat and Mr Gachanja appeared at the anti-corruption court, where they denied the economic crime charges, which included abuse of office, breach of trust and obtaining money irregularly in mid 1999.
On Thursday, an investigator revealed to the court how he traced millions of shillings irregularly withdrawn from Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) and wired to bank accounts of former President Moi’s aide Joshua Kulei.
Testifying before Senior Principal Magistrate Felix Kombo, David Kang’ara said a trail of KPC banking at Commercial Bank of Africa linked payments to firms linked to Mr Kulei.
Mr Kulei’s firm was paid Sh17.9 million for services not rendered and on claims that it offered engineering to an LPG company called East Africa Gas Company Limited (EAGCL) which was owned 45 per cent by KPC.
Under a joint venture in an LPG plant, KPC was to provide cash while EAGCL was required to provide land and equipment worth Sh92.5 million.
KPC spent Sh65 million on consultancies and feasibility studies on the non-existent project from 1995 to 1997. According to the prosecution, Mr Kulei obtained Sh12 million from the Gas LPG company on May 19, 1999 through another of his firms, Ashar Ltd, and a further Sh5.9 million later by falsely pretending that his firm Sian Ltd had paid land rent, rates and the assessment fee during the Moi era.
The companies were allegedly paid irregularly without providing any goods or services to EAGCL, Mr Kang’ara told the court.
Mr Kulei, Ashar Limited, Sian Enterprises and Agrid Limited, former KPC managing director Ezekiel Komen and Prakash Bhundia are accused of conspiracy to defraud a state corporation of Sh65.2 million in 1999.
Is the case against Kulei a witchhunt?