Eric Mutai: Cleaner who received Ksh.257 million for supplying 'air'

A statement by the Ethics And Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed that Eric Kipkirui Mutai was listed as the director of seven companies that were contracted to 'supply goods' to several prisons in Nairobi. 

These companies include Homex Logistics, Hygienic Ventures, Nerimas General Agencies, Trechris Services, Unique Supplies, Facton Logistics and White Unicorn Logistics. 

Upon investigations, EACC established that the payment vouchers from the companies were fake, meaning that they did not provide the food supply to the prisons. 

Also, the delivery notes did not have the name of the receiving officer which is a requirement. 

"That there are no local purchase orders, inspection and acceptance committee certificates in the payment vouchers. That none of the deliveries indicated on the delivery notes attached to the payment vouchers was recorded in the prisons books," EACC said.

"That none of the payments was charged in the respective vote book of the prison where the deliveries were purported to have been made."

Mutai has worked as a cleaner at the prisons department for seven years and is among the 13 suspects involved in the embezzlement of Ksh.450 million from the Prisons Department. 

Five suspects, including Mutai, were arrested on Thursday over their alleged involvement in the scandal; Sarah Kemunto (Chief Finance Officer), Moses Juma Sirengo (Principal Accountant), Jack Nyariango Ogao (Accountant) and Maureen Ndungwa (Director of one of the companies involved).

EACC revealed that Mutai lived a lavish lifestyle following the scandal after purchasing seven cars, a piece of land a house in Nairobi worth Ksh.17.5 million. These assets were, however, frozen by a High Court ruling in 2022 pending the hearing of the case. 

The five suspects are set to be arraigned at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Friday, July 19.

Meanwhile, the EACC has ordered the eight other suspects at large to surrender to the nearest EACC office by Friday.