DPP seeks to charge ex-National Museums DG Kibunja, four others with Ksh.490M fraud

In a statement on Saturday, the office of the DPP said it had initiated the case against Kibunja, three other employees and another employee of Equity Bank involved in the fraud.

Kibunja’s co-accused are Stanvas Ongalo Opijah who was the Director, Human Resources and Administration, Oliver Okinyi Rabuor (ICT Officer, Payroll Section), Wycliffe Odhiambo Ongata (Accountant, Payroll Section)  and Equity Bank Accountant Oscar Mwaura Wambui. 

“DPP made the Decision to Charge the former Director General of National Museums of Kenya, Dr. Mzalendo Kibunja, along with three employees and an employee of Equity Bank with embezzlement of Ksh.490 million at the National Museums of Kenya (NMK), which was irregularly paid as salaries to ghost employees and later transferred to officers of the institution between FY 2015/2016 and 2021/2022,” read the statement.

DPP says that a probe into the case submitted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had warranted the prosection of the five persons.

They will be charged with five counts among them conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, Abuse of office, Unlawful acquisition of public property, Acquisition of proceeds of crime contrary and Financial misconduct contrary to the law.

EACC last year revealed that the multi-million scandal saw 105 ghost workers added to the payroll between 2016 and 2022. 

The ghost workers were paid a gross salary of between Ksh.88,000 and Ksh.95,000, and they were also able to access loan facilities from a specific bank. 

They later handed over the borrowed amount to NMK officials, and for their troubles, they were given between Ksh.100k to Ksh.200k as appreciation, with the commission noting that these activities cost the taxpayer a total of Ksh.491.4 million.