The court has on Wednesday released four Taita Taveta officials arrested over Ksh 7M theft involving the alleged First World War ceremony in the county.
The four who include Thomas Jumwa, the current Economic Advisor to Governor Andrew Mwadime, former County Secretary Liverson Mghendi, former Finance Chief Officer Leonard Langat, and Christine Wakera, the former Trade, Tourism and Co-operatives Development Chief Officer were arraigned before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku.
At the court they faced conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption through the project which was not planned for but unlawfully paid to between 24th to 27th November 2022.
- High Court suspends muguka ban by Mombasa, Kilifi and Taita Taveta
- Taita Taveta Deputy Speaker Anselm Mwadime released on Ksh 500K cash bail
“jointly conspired to commit an offence of corruption in engaging in a project without prior planning and unlawfully facilitated direct procurement and payment of services for the World War 1 commemoration event between 24th and 27th November 2022, an event which had not been budgeted for in the budget for the financial year 2022/2023.
They were also charged with an offence of engaging in a project without prior planning contrary to section 45(2) (c) as read together with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act laws of Kenya,” said ODPP
Nyambu, one of the accused person is reported to have received Ksh 1,018,000 as payments for services rendered during the ceremony.
He is also accused of with unlawful acquisition of public property, uttering false documents, and failing to comply with the applicable procedures and guidelines relating to incurring of expenditures.
The accused were released on Ksh 200,000 cash bail or a bond of Ksh 1 million. Nyambu on the other hand was released on Ksh 500,000 or a bond of Ksh 2 million.
The case will be mentioned on November 7, 2024
