Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal, Samburu governor has been barred from transferring, disposing or in any other way dealing with Four Prime Properties situated in Karen area for the next 6 months.
Detectives had previously raided the Governor’s homes in Nairobi and Samburu in investigations linked to embezzlement of Ksh.2billion.
According to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) it is alleged the governor fraudulently acquired Ksh600m in a period of four years which was traced and listed in properties valued at hundreds of millions of shillings.
According to commission detectives, the Ksh.300m palatial house sits on approximately one acre parcel of land in Karen fair acres area and was acquired in the financial year 2016/17.
According to court papers, the commission is investigating allegations of corruption, economic crimes, bribery as well as conflict of interest amongst contractors and officials of the Samburu County Government.
The governor’s residential home in Milimani estate, Maralal town is also on EACC’s radar. The property, valued at Ksh.100 million was developed between 2016 and 2017.
In a statement, EACC said it searched the residences of Mr Kassaine, his Personal Assistant Simon Etiene, County Assembly Speaker Solomon Lempere, several county chief officers, executive committee members and contractors awarded phony tenders.
According EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak, the county has lost more than Sh2 billion in the last four years.
“The investigations revealed gross financial misappropriation, conflict of interest and embezzlement of funds in an organised and systematic pattern involving county officials working in diverse departments,” Mr Mbarak said.
EACC further claimed that Oryx Service Station was awarded a contract to supply diesel and petrol to Samburu County for the period 2014-2019.
Mr. Lenolkulal, through the said company, allegedly received payments in excess of Ksh.80,763,715.35 from the county during the period 2013-2018.
“It is reasonably suspected that the proceeds of the aforesaid contract which are public funds may have been used by the governor to purchase the properties and to accumulate substantial property of illicit wealth which is amenable to forfeiture to the state, “read court papers.
EACC, through court papers, also claimed that the governor purchased properties each worth at least Ksh.15 million in Karen on July 8, 2015.
EACC said their investigations revealed that some officials of the county government had registered companies that were awarded contracts worth over Sh 700 million but no service was rendered.
Mr Mbarak said investigations proved that the money was withdrawn in cash and shared amongst various county officials.