DPP seeks 10-year ban from public office for ex-Governor Ojaamong in Ksh.8M corruption case

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga has called on the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court to convict former Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong on corruption charges and impose appropriate penalties.

In his closing submissions on Wednesday, the DPP argued that he had proven the case against Ojaamong and his eight co-accused beyond a reasonable doubt on all counts, after presenting 22 witnesses who testified.

Ojaamong was charged alongside Benard Yaite (Water CEC), Lenard Ombira (Finance CEC), Allen Omachari (Chief Officer Finance & Economic Planning), Allen Omachari (Head of Treasury Accounting), Samuel Ombui (Finance Manager Madam R Enterprises Limited).

Edna Odoyo, Renish Omullo, Sebastian Hallensben and Madam R Enterprises Limited were also charged in the case.

They are accused of conspiring to defraud the Busia County Government of Ksh.8 million for a purported feasibility study on an integrated solid waste management project to be carried out by Madam R Enterprises Ltd.

“The accused persons face various charges, including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, engaging in a project without prior planning, abuse of office, willful failure to comply with laws on public funds management, fraudulently making payments from public revenue for services not rendered, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and failure to pay taxes,” the ODPP said in a statement.

“The prosecution submitted that the ninth accused, Madam R Enterprises Ltd., was not registered at the time of signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), rendering the agreement null and void.”

The DPP also contended that Madam R Enterprises was mainly engaged in the hardware business and did not possess the necessary qualifications, capacity, experience, resources, equipment, or facilities to execute the waste management contract.

“The prosecution further asserted that none of the Madam R Enterprises Ltd employees demonstrated that they had the requisite skills or qualifications for conducting waste management or feasibility studies,” added the statement.

“They also failed to demonstrate any prior experience in similar projects or their ability to secure a Ksh.6.9 billion tender for Phase 2 of the project, which involved constructing a waste management plant.”

The DPP also requested the court to issue an order to prevent the accused individuals from being elected or appointed to public office for the next ten years.

“The evidence is clear, credible, consistent, cogent, and sufficiently strong to leave no doubt in this honorable court that the accused persons committed the offenses for which they were charged,” the prosecution stated.

The court will deliver its judgment in the case on May 16, 2025.