The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has seized Ksh.100 million worth of assets belonging to an officer of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA).
The KERRA Kajiado County Officer identified as Esther Wanjiru Chege is said to have illegally acquired the assets including millions of shillings and 13 parcels of land.
The parcels of land are scattered different towns including; Kiambu, Nyandarua, Naivasha, Makueni and Kajiado.
Moreover, the EACC through a report issued on Friday, July 22 stated that the officer under investigation for alleged conflict of interest, embezzlement of public funds and unexplained wealth.
In addition, EACC confiscated 13 title deeds after the assets were frozen by the High Court in Machakos on July 19, 2022.
Furthermore, the court ordered the accused’s Equity bank account holding Ksh.3,295,271 to be frozen.
“EACC believes that the bank account is being used as a conduit for depositing and transferring proceeds of corruption at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority,” noted the anti-graft commission.
Likewise, the commission noted that between January 2016 – May 2022, Wanjiru transacted Ksh.26,359,921 through the said bank account. Further adding that her net salary at the moment has been Kshs. 116,640.
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Moreover, the KERRA officer is alleged to have, siphoned public funds through companies registered through proxies and relatives.
Besides, her partner Robert Macharia Kimotho is one the suspected accomplices.
“Together with her partner Robert Macharia Kimotho, they operate a school bank Account under the name St. Sharon Secondary School where money is sent from their company accounts to and before its transfer to their personal accounts and M-Pesa,” adds EACC
Furthermore, the anti-graft commission reported that, a company by the name M/s Rokays Enterprise Limited registered by Wanjiru’s partner Mr Robert Macharia, who is a Director of St. Sharon Secondary School in Nyandarua, received over Ksh.5 million from KERRA.
Similarly, M/s Reswan Enterprises Limited, is a separate company registered under James Chege Njoroge, a brother to Esther Wanjiru Chege, alleged to have received about Ksh.20 million from KERRA.
Other companies who’s bank accounts are managed by the suspect include; Kaydtech Enterprises Limited, Reswan Holdings Limited and Resro Holdings Limited.
Nonetheless, the anti-corruption commission will be seeking to have any assets fraudulently acquired by Wanjiru be forfeited to the state.
