Former KBC bosses to answer graft charges

By WAHOME THUKU

A former Kenya Broadcasting Corporation managing director has been summoned to court to answer to corruption charges.

Mr David Waweru is to face three charges of failing to comply with the law by entering into contracts with three media organisations and the world soccer body, Fifa.

Also to be tried alongside Waweru is the former KBC secretary Hezekiel Oira, who answered to the charges on Wednesday.

The two are jointly accused of willfully failing to comply with the law by procuring a contract with Fifa, the African Union of Broadcasting, Radio Africa Limited, and the Royal Media Group without the approval of the central tender committee of the corporation.

The criminal charges arose from contracts between KBC and the other organisations for the broadcasting of Fifa World Cup 2010 matches live from South Africa.

Breach of peace

Kenya Anti-corruption Commission claims they committed the offences at the KBC offices in Nairobi between March 20, 2009, and January 1, last year.

The two were suspended from their positions in June last year to pave way for investigations. They were then sacked in September and Waweru was replaced by KBC’s Editor-in-Chief Waithaka Waihenya as MD and Oira was replaced by Finance and Administration Manager Musa Muthambi.

Mr Waweru was not in court on Wednesday when the case was called out, as he had not been summoned. His lawyer said he had travelled to Kampala but would be returning to face the charges.

Trial Magistrate Lucy Nyambura ordered Waweru be served with the summons and be told to report to the KACC headquarters for fingerprinting.

Mr Oira denied the accusations and was released on Sh500,000 bond, with a surety or a Sh200,000 cash bail. The case will be mentioned again on May 3, when Waweru will answer to the charges.