Samburu Governor's accounts frozen over Sh1.6 billion fraud

Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal after recording statement over the Sh2billion scandal at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. [David Gichuru/Standard]

The High Court has frozen Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal’s bank accounts as corruption investigators probe the suspected misuse of Sh1.6 billion in his administration.

Justice John Onyiego barred the county from operating or withdrawing money from his five accounts registered in the names of his company, Oryx Service Station, pending determination of the suit by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

In its application, EACC claimed the governor was likely to withdraw from the accounts and hide over Sh80 million they believe he corruptly acquired from the county government.

“In light of the ongoing investigations into the Sh1.6 billion financial misappropriation in Samburu County, the commission is reasonably apprehensive that the governor will transfer, withdraw or in other way deal with the money to defeat the cause of justice,” said lawyer Diana Kenduiwa.

Ms Kenduiwa argued that after Lenolkulal was elected governor in 2013, he incorporated and registered Oryx Service Station as a conduit for siphoning public funds from the county government.

She stated that the governor’s company was awarded an exclusive contract for supply of fuel to the county government. This, Kenduiwa added, was a clear case of conflict of interest where an elected leader uses money meant for the public to pay himself.

She stated that between 2013 and 2018, the governor received in excess of Sh80,763,715 in his personal account from the county coffers by purporting that his company had supplied diesel and petrol for use by the county’s vehicles.

“We believe (Lenolkulal) accumulated substantial property and illicit wealth which must be forfeited and surrendered to the State. Analysis of his bank accounts revealed that his company would be paid the huge amounts before he transfers the money to his personal accounts,” said Kenduiwa.

The orders freezing the county chief’s accounts came just two weeks after he was stopped from selling or transferring four prime properties in Nairobi believed to have been acquired using proceeds of crime.

According to EACC, the governor acted like a man robbing and eating from his own children through collusion with his county officials to siphon the loot using bribery, conflict of interest and blatant disregard of the poor people the devolved money was supposed to serve.

The commission also alleged that the governor and his officials had been inflating costs and making fictitious procurement contracts which led to the loss of the Sh1.6 billion between 2013 and December 2018.

On July 8, 2015, Lenolkulal is said to have splashed Sh30 million on two parcels of land in Karen, an amount the EACC claimed was part of the loot from Samburu County.

“We have reason to believe the governor has accumulated wealth which does not match with his legitimate sources of income. It is only fair that his accounts be frozen to allow full investigations and to institute the case to recover the looted public property,” said Kenduiwa.

She added that Lenolkulal hatched the plot to fleece the county with his county employees through collusion with private contractors who would pay them kickbacks when the deal is done.

Justice Onyiego ruled that the orders freezing the governor’s accounts would last for six months, and gave him seven days to respond to the claims.