Two senior officials of State agency deny abusing office

Two senior officials of the Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Productions Institute (Kevevapi) have been charged with abuse of office at a Nairobi anti-corruption court.

Managing Director Geoffrey Kiprop Mutai and Head of Supply Chain Management George Koigi Ndungu appeared before Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Lawrence Mugambi yesterday and denied the charges.

Mr Mutai was accused of using his office on January 20,2014 at the /nstitute's headquarters within Nairobi County to improperly confer a benefit on a Mr Justus Kigen, by executing a contract allowing him to utilise 70 hectares of the institute's land in Limuru before undertaking tendering process.

The two officials were jointly charged with failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to procurement.

The court heard that on similar dates and place, Mutai and Ndungu failed to comply with the law relating to procurement by failing to undertake open tendering or alternative procedures before awarding Kigen the said contract.

The defence requested for favourable bond terms on grounds that the suspects are not a flight risk, as they were senior officials of the institute. The magistrate directed that they be furnished with copies of the witness statements. They were released on a cash bail of Sh300,000. The case will be mentioned on June 16.