DPP Keriako Tobiko still pursuing 88 corruption cases

Kuresoi South MP Zakayo Cheruiyot addressing the journalists at his in Lavington home, following the raid by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officers. PHOTO/FILE

NAIROBI: Graft cases involving billions of shillings are listed by the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) as ongoing.

The cases, some dating back to 2004, mainly revolve around former and current high-ranking public officers and politicians.

Most of the cases stem from conspiracies to defraud the public, abuse of office, economic crimes, irregular disposal of public property, economic crimes and procurement to misappropriation of funds.

The 2008 Triton Oil Company scandal remains one of the country’s biggest and recent corruption cases that are yet to be concluded.

The scam involved the unauthorised release of oil by the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) in 2008 without informing the financiers.

Triton, owned by tycoon Yagnesh Devani, was allowed by KPC to draw oil amounting to Sh7.6 billion. Mr Devani is charged alongside Julius Kilonzo, Collins Otieno, Mahendra Pathak and Benedict Mutua with defrauding KPC.

Devani fled the country in 2009 and a warrant of arrest was issued against him. He was arrested in the UK.

ANGLO LEASING CASES

Last September, an assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Victor Mule, told the trial court that he would not amend the charge sheet but would like to proceed with the trial in the absence of Devani, who is the first accused in the case.

Already, the DPP is handling three Anglo Leasing-related cases, which involve former Minister David Mwiraria, Chris Obure and others.

Kuresoi South MP Zakayo Cheruiyot is also accused of abuse of office in procurement of forensic laboratories in the Anglo Leasing contract.

The National Youth Service (NYS) scandal cases pertaining to irregular activities on the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) involve former Planning PS Peter Mangiti, former NYS Director Nelson Githinji and 25 other individuals.

Mangiti was charged with interfering with a public official in the conspiracy to steal Sh695 million from NYS.

The former PS and Dr Githinji are in trouble over the loss of Sh791 million through fictitious  payments to suppliers. Githinji is also facing abuse of office charge by servicing and maintaining a private vehicle at Sh497,335, paid by NYS.

Nine suspended Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC) officers facing corruption charges have been slapped with stiff bail conditions.

Already, the court has granted suspended GDC Managing Director Silas Simiyu and Company Secretary Praxides Namoni a Sh8 million cash bail each.

Nicholas Karume, Abraham Kipchirchir, Peter Ayodo, Gordon Mwagae, Caleb Mbavi, Bruno Mugambi and Michael Maingi are on a Sh5 million bail each.

The nine are said to have been in a committee that failed to comply with procurement laws and inappropriately influenced evaluation in signing and approving a Sh42 million tender. They all denied the charges.

The DPP is also prosecuting a cemetery case involving the former city council of Nairobi’s irregular procurement of land in Nairobi at a cost of Sh283 million and abuse of office by Sammy Kirui and others.

Kirui, Mary Ng’ethe, Alender Musee and 11 others of the defunct Nairobi City Council are listed in a conspiracy to defraud, abuse of office and fraudulent acquisition of public property.

Keriako is prosecuting former National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) boss Richard Kerich and former Strategy and Corporate planning manager at the fund David Kipruto Chingi with conspiracy to defraud NHIF of more than Sh96.5 million by entering into a contract to provide s medical scheme to civil servants through the Clinix chain of medical providers.

GRAFT IN PARASTATALS

Another corruption case involves allegations of fraudulent transfer of Sh19.3 million from Kemri CDC project account by former KEMRI Director Davy Koech to African Medical Services Trust (AMSET) account, which is unrelated to Kemri, without authorisation.

Five senior employees of the Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) are also in court to answer charges of defrauding the institution of more than Sh11 million.

Managing Commissioner Ibrahim Isaak, Esther Ngari (Quality Assurance & Research Manager), Francis Mutuse (Accounts Assistant), Ruth Mwangi (Accountant) and Patrick Mutemi have already appeared before the court to face charges of conspiracy to commit an economic crime by defrauding the institution.

These are among the 88 corruption cases profiled by the DPP and are currently pending before the courts.