Former Lands officer in Sh24m fraud case freed on bond

According to the anti-graft agency detectives, the county government of Baringo wanted to buy a piece of land to construct houses for its employees within Kabarnet town in 2016.

The project fell under the department of lands, which was tasked with the process of identifying a suitable parcel of land for the project. Kandie, who was the accounting officer, allegedly colluded with the valuer to inflate the price of the land from Sh8 million to Sh24.3 million.

The charge sheet stated that the actual size of the land was 7.8 acres while the officers recorded 10 acres. "On May 3, 2016, at Baringo County Government Office, being the Chief Officer Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Baringo County, you willfully failed to comply with the law relating to procurement, Schedule of C.P.C) to wit Section 84 of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005 by engaging a team to enter into negotiations with the successful bidder in the tender number BRCG/LHU/TRN/2/2015-2016 for purchase of land for public purpose prior to the Tender Committee's approval of the successful proposal."