Eight former senior Isiolo County officers, together with three chief officers, arrested on Wednesday by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Fee (EACC) have denied 12 counts of corruption associated to a Sh58.5 million procurement of a hearth engine.
The accused, who appeared earlier than Isiolo Chief Justice of the Peace Lucy Mutai, denied expenses of failure to adjust to procurement legal guidelines, abuse of workplace and illegal acquisition of public property.
Every was launched on a bond of Sh3 million and a surety of an analogous quantity or within the various, Sh400,000 money bail. The matter will likely be talked about on February 6, 2024.
They embody Peter Ngechu Muhuha (former chief officer, finance), Ahmed Ali (former head of treasury), Jibril Hassan and Augustine Kariuki Gatebu (accountants), Adano Salad Kadubo (former chief officer, public works), Linus Gichunge Thuranira (former county authorized adviser) and Yusuf Mohamed Galgalo (additionally former chief officer, finance).
The eighth suspect, former Head of Provide Chain Administration, Dr Salad Kikuyu Sarite, surrendered to EACC detectives early Thursday morning and was arraigned alongside his former colleagues.Â
The previous officers had been amongst 13 suspects charged with the above-mentioned offences. 5 different suspects stay at massive; Qanchora Roba (former Chief Finance Officer), John Thuranira Nkuraru (Provide Chain Administration Assistant), Ali Godana Wako (former City Administrator), Kennedy Macharia Murimi (Transport Officer) and Bashir Hassan Abey (Director, Drescoll Restricted). The Justice of the Peace issued warrants for his or her arrest.
Provide of a hearth engine
EACC’s investigation established that the suspects engaged in a flawed procurement course of within the 2018/19 monetary yr, to fraudulently award the tender value Sh58.5 million to Drescoll Restricted for the provision of a hearth engine.
The investigation additionally revealed that the identical contractor is on the centre of a associated investigation in Marsabit County, involving a Sh62 million tender for the provision of a hearth engine.
A report detailing the corrupt dealings was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who agreed with the anti-corruption watchdog’s suggestions to cost the 13 suspects.
Mr Ngechu, Ali, Hassan and Gatebu had been processed at EACC’s Isiolo regional workplaces and later detained at Isiolo Central Police Station pending arraignment, whereas Adano, Gichunge and Mohamed had been questioned at EACC headquarters in Nairobi and detained at Integrity Centre Police Station on Wednesday. They had been all reunited on the docks on Thursday morning to face the graft expenses.
