Clerk sought over missing Sh922m in Masai Mara

By Kipchumba Kemei

Narok,Kenya: Police in Narok are hunting for the Masai Mara Game Reserve clerk over the alleged disappearance of Sh922 million.

Area Divisional Criminal Investigation Officer (DCIO) Peter Ndubi said yesterday the county government lost the money that had been collected over the last two weeks as park entry fees.

“We are hunting for the official who has disappeared yet he was the custodian of the cash safe. Our investigations indicate the money disappeared last week and since then the officer cannot be located,” said Ndubi, adding there could have been a conspiracy between the clerk and other gate clerks.

The DCIO said although there was interference in the investigations, police were determined to get to the bottom of the matter and added his office had contacted mobile phone providers in a bid to track the suspect down. Last month, the county government cancelled a ten-year contract its predecessor, Narok County Council, had entered with Equity bank for the park entry fees collection.

Tame pilferage

The county administration claimed the bank had reneged on the pre-paid smart card system deal that saw it lose millions of shillings from the reserve.

Residents are now questioning why the county government sent the bank packing yet it had not put up a watertight system to tame revenue pilferage.

This comes as residents of Olokurto Division, Narok North, want the county government to tame money pilferage at five barriers along the Narok-Mau Road. Forty-eight people are said to be collecting money from transporters at five barriers along the road yet they were not on the county payroll.

“The county should launch investigations into the matter. These people masquerading as officials, without appointment letters, should be arrested,” said a former councillor who requested anonymity.

Last month, the county Transitional Authority clerk, Stella Langat, issued a circular freezing employment of casuals, which prompted the Government to order an employee headcount.