Three charged over CMC deal

Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal and 10 other officials are facing Sh84.7 million graft-related charges in Nairobi. [File, Standard]

Three more officials of the Samburu County government have been charged with graft, bringing the number of officials facing prosecution to 15. 

Yesterday, the three appeared before Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Samuel Mungai in Isiolo.

Reuben Maruben, Chief Officer for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Daniel Lenolkirina, Finance Chief Officer and Geoffrey Marun, head of Supply, were charged with various counts of corruption and violation of procurement laws and regulations in awarding tenders for two tractors and two ploughs.

The case facing the officials is in connection to allegations of embezzlement of public funds in the award of the tender to Ms CMC Motors Company Ltd worth Sh8,418,964 for the supply and delivery of the items.

They each faced three counts either separately or jointly with Maruben, accused of allegedly using his office to improperly confer benefit to the motor firm at his office in Maralal town by unlawfully using direct procurement method to award and authorise payment.

Marube was charged that between April 21 and June 8, 2015, he fraudulently misrepresented facts in order to influence the award of the tender while purporting to rely on procurement tendering documents of a previous year’s contract which had already been concluded and done with by the firm.

Allegedly sold

Lenolkirina faced charges that between June 8 and June 22 along with his Agriculture counterpart, he allegedly sold public property by unlawfully authorising and facilitating the payment of the amount to CMC by signing payment vouchers on June 8, 2015.

The magistrate released the suspects on a bond of Sh500,000 pending the mention of the case on June 30.

Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal and 10 other officials are facing Sh84.7 million graft-related charges in Nairobi.