The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged former Director General of the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), Dr. Mzalendo Kibunja, alongside four other individuals, with embezzlement of funds.
The funds totaling Ksh 490,000,000 were irregularly disbursed as salaries to ghost workers and subsequently transferred to various officers within the institution between the financial years 2015/2016 and 2021/2022.
The four other accused individuals are identified as Stanvas Ongalo Opijah, the Director of Human Resource and Administration and Oliver Okinyi Rabuor, an ICT Officer in the Payroll Section.
Others include Wycliffe Odhiambo Ongata, an Accountant in the Payroll Section; and Oscar Mwaura Wambui, an Accountant at Equity Bank.
As such, the decision to prosecute follows a meticulous and independent review of the inquiry file by the DPP’s office.
“The DPP upon further independent and thorough review of the resubmitted inquiry file, was satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to warrant the prosecution of the suspects,” read the statement in part.
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DPP Charges to Mzalendo in Payment of Ghost Workers
The charges encompass a range of offenses including conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption contrary to section 47A (3) as read with section 48 of ACECA.
Others include abuse of office contrary to section 46 as read with section 48 of ACECA and unlawful acquisition of public property contrary to section 45(1)(a) as read with section 48 of ACECA.
Furthermore, they will also be charged with acquisition of proceeds of crime contrary to section 4 as read with section 16 of POCAMLA and financial misconduct contrary to section 197(1)(i) as read with section 199 of the PFMA.
In response to the impending legal proceedings, the DPP emphasized the commitment of the office to uphold the principles of the Constitution of Kenya, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights in fulfilling its mandate.
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Parliament Exposed Paying Dead and Transferred Workers
Recently, the Kenyan Parliament was put on spot due to numerous irregularities in the security workforce responsible for manning the national legislative chambers.
Questions have been raised about the integrity of the security payroll in parliament, particularly concerning the presence of deceased officers and those who have been transferred out but are still on the payroll.
The issue of ghost workers within Parliament’s security workforce is particularly concerning, with insiders admitting that a significant number of officers do not show up for duty yet continue to receive payment without detection.
Furthermore, the presence of deceased officers’ names as well as that of those who have been transferred remained on the payroll pointing to the flaws in the security payroll system.
