The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested a cleaner at the Ministry of Interior State Department for Correctional Services among other officials for the embezzlement of Ksh 450 million.
The EACC identified the cleaner as Eric Kipkurui Mutai, who reportedly owns seven companies that received Ksh 257 million despite not supplying any goods to prison stations.
Four senior officials at the Ministry of Interior have already been arrested as investigations into the graft scheme continue.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has today arrested 5 out of 13 suspects to be charged with various offences relating to embezzlement of public funds amounting to Ksh.450,138,000 at the State Department for Correctional Services,” EACC Deputy CEO Abdi Mohamud said.
Among the officials arrested is Sarah Kemunto Kerandi (Chief Finance Officer), Moses Juma Sirengo (Principal Accountant), Jack Nyariango Ogao (Accountant) and Maureen Ndungwa (Director of one of the companies involved).
Jointly, the five suspects are part of 13 individuals linked to the scheme.
![EACC chief executive Twalib Mbarak. /COURTESY](http://thekenyatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Twalib-512x375.jpg)
EACC to Arrest More 8 Officials
According to Mohamud, the probe concerns fraudulent tenders for the supposed supply of food rations to various prison facilities.
“This relates to fraudulent tenders for purported supply of food and ration to various prison stations by seventeen (17) companies linked to the officials during the Financial Years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018,” he said.
Also Read: Marsabit Senator Mohammed Chute Arrested
Additionally, EACC ordered the eight remaining persons of interest to avail themselves before the Commission on Friday by 8am.
“The Commission hereby orders the following eight (8) suspects who are yet to be arrested to report to EACC, Nairobi Integrity Center Offices or to the nearest EACC Office not later than Friday, July 19, 2024, 8:00 am, without fail.”
Former Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Benjamin Njogu and several other high-ranking officials are also among the suspects in the ongoing investigation into the matter.
Others include Mageto Omani Mirieri, (Assistant Director Supply Chain Management Services), Joseph Kamau Mwangi (Head of Accounts) and accountants Humphrey Wende Abok and Jack Nyariango Ogao.
Also, those yet to be arrested are Ochoki Joseph Omaiyo (Prison Warder), Stephen Kisonzo Mulwa (Director of eight of the companies involved) and Joseph Kariuki Mwangi, a director of one of the companies involved.
Also Read: Travelers Arrested with Ksh990K Worth of Bhang Before Boarding Super Metro
Increased Graft Cases
Recently, the country has witnessed an increase in cases of embezzlement of funds by government officials, particularly through tender projects.
A Court in Mombasa on July 18, 2024, sentenced a Senior Procurement Officer at the Mombasa County Assembly to a 6-year jail term or a fine of Ksh 2.1 million for fraudulent practice in procurement proceedings, among other charges.
Crispin Odhiambo Atego was convicted together with the former Clerk of the Mombasa County Assembly, Tubman Otieno Achogo, who was sentenced to one year in jail or a fine of Ksh 300,000.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s Lower Coast Regional Office in Mombasa investigated allegations in 2018 that the County Assembly of Mombasa had attempted to pay Ksh 870,000 to Kuri Supplies for Cameras, laptops, and printers even though the goods had not been delivered.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel for real-time news updates:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaB3k54HltYFiQ1f2i2C
![EACC Arrests Cleaner and Five Others Over Ksh450 Million](http://thekenyatimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/KINDIKI-FEATURE-ARMY-750x375-1.jpg)