Four Taita Taveta officials charged for theft of Ksh.7M World War I event funds

Four senior Taita Taveta County officials arraigned on Wednesday over the alleged theft of Ksh.7 million public funds under the pretext of commemorating the First World War have been released.

Thomas Jumwa, the current Economic Advisor to Governor Andrew Mwadime, former County Secretary Liverson Mghendi, former Finance Chief Officer Leonard Langat, and Christine Wakera, the former Trade, Tourism and Co-operatives Development Chief Officer, appeared before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku.

They were charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption.

The court heard that the quartet, “jointly conspired to commit an offence of corruption in engaging in a project without prior planning and unlawfully facilitated direct procurement and payment of services for the World War 1 commemoration event between 24th and 27th November 2022, an event which had not been budgeted for in the budget for the financial year 2022/2023.”

“They were also charged with an offence of engaging in a project without prior planning contrary to section 45(2) (c) as read together with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act laws of Kenya,” read a statement from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP).

One of the accused persons, Nyambu, was also charged with unlawful acquisition of public property, uttering false documents, and willful failure to comply with the applicable procedures and guidelines relating to incurring of expenditures.

According to the ODPP, Nyambu unlawfully acquired Ksh.1,018,000 as purported payments for services rendered during the said event.

All the officials pleaded not guilty to charges levelled against them and were released on Ksh.1 million bond or cash bail of Ksh.200,000 each.

Nyambu, on the other hand, was released on a bond of Ksh.2 million or cash bail of Ksh.500,000.

The case will be mentioned on November 7, 2024.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives on Tuesday arrested and detained the four officials at Mombasa Central Police Station.

In its report on Tuesday, EACC said it established that the alleged World War I event was neither factored in the annual procurement plan nor budgeted for in the 2022/23 financial year.