What's next for billionaire civil servant and wife, after assets are frozen

Kenya Rural Roads Authority regional manager for Coast Benson Muteti Masila was a man on a mission to build a financial legacy when he acquired assets worth Sh1.1 billion.
His lavish lifestyle was, however, cut short when the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission obtained orders freezing his properties over suspicion that they were acquired through proceeds of corruption.

Among Masila’s frozen properties were  two apartment blocks in Kariobangi, one apartment block in Dandora, three apartments in Mathare, six plots in Wote town, and two plots in Athi River all valued at Sh237 million. His wife Zipporah Mwongeli was also unlucky as the court stopped her from dealing in an apartment in Imara Daima Estate worth Sh5 million and other properties worth Sh100 million registered in the names of their schools, Mumbe Junior Academy and Mumbe Girls High School. Justice Esther Maina also froze Masila’s nine accounts, his wife’s three accounts, their schools’ eight accounts and three accounts registered in the names of Mumbe Hardware Limited.

“They are also restrained from selling or disposing in any way their five vehicles, transferring their shares at KCB worth Sh2.2 million or redeeming their insurance policies at Britam worth Sh20 million and Madison Insurance worth Sh10 million,” ruled Maina.

“It is worth noting that in the last 10 years, the Commission has recovered corruptly acquired assets in the form of cash, moveable and immovable assets valued at approximately Sh30 billion,” said Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) Boss Twalib Mbarak.

He added that they are currently pursuing cases filed in various courts across the country seeking to recover public assets valued at Sh14 billion and unexplained wealth valued at Sh11.6 billion from public officials who own assets disproportionate to their known legitimate sources of income.