EACC seeks freeze on Ketraco manager Peter Njehia's assets

Integrity Centre in Nairobi, the headquarters of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. [File]

The anti-graft agency has filed a fresh application to stop a manager at Kenya Electricity Transmission Company from disposing his assets worth Sh216 million.

EACC in the suit filed before the High Court claims that they have established that Peter Maina Njehia who is Ketraco's supply chain manager cannot explain the source of the funds suspected to be proceeds of crime and corruption.

"Our investigations have revealed that he has unexplained wealth totalling Sh216,374,181. We are at the final stage of filing an application for forfeiture of the assets and asking the court to freeze the properties so that he does not dispose them," said EACC lawyer Pius Nyoike.

EACC had in March obtained orders freezing Njehia's and his wife Julie Hellen Matu's accounts and assets over suspicion that they were acquired through corruption. The freezing orders were to lapse after six months.

The commission wants the court to extend the orders freezing the assets to allow EACC file formal application for forfeiture to the State.

Nyoike submitted that between January 2010 and March 2021 when Njehia was suspected in engaging in corruption, the investigations established that he acquired several properties and cash in banks accounts totalling Sh278 million.

"His legitimate income within the same period was Sh40 million and when summoned to explain the disproportionate in his income and assets, he satisfactorily explained how he acquired an additional Sh21 million leaving a balance of Sh216 million which are proceeds of corruption," said Nyoike.

The commission claims that Njehia was employed as Ketraco's senior manager in charge of supply chain management in December 2016 with a monthly salary of Sh326,745 but within ten years, he acquired properties that are not proportionate with his earnings.

Among the listed properties the commission suspects were acquired through proceeds of corruption are 18 parcels of land in Nakuru and Kiambu counties, three apartment blocks in Nakuru and Nairobi, and nine vehicles.

EACC investigator Shadrack Mwenda alleged that Njehia was part of the Ketraco workers who have been demanding and receiving huge bribes from contractors after which he hid the money in Stima Sacco and through the purchase of properties.