Kwale Treasury boss, 4 brothers granted Sh1m bond in Sh48.9m graft case

Kwale County Head of Treasury Vincent Mbito and his four brothers, all county employees, were on Tuesday charged in a multi-million graft case.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) had earlier arrested the five Kwale County Government officials in connection with a Sh44.9 million graft scandal allegedly involving the misuse of public funds within the Kwale County Government.

All five denied the charges at the Mombasa Law Courts.

They were released on a bond of Sh1 million each or a cash bail of Sh500,000 each.

The charge sheet indicated they are accused of fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to section 4s(l) (o) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 30 of 2003.

Corrupt practices

Mbito was accused of orchestrating corrupt practices with the purported involvement of his siblings.

The co-accused are Mongo Mbito Mongo, the County Revenue Officer, Hassan Shilingi Mbito, a driver associated with the Kwale Water and Sewerage Company Limited, Mwaiwe Mongo Mbito, serving as the Kwale County Procurement Officer, and Chindoro Mongo Mbito, who is employed in the Ministry of Health's Department of Public Health and Professional Standards.

Kwale County Head of Treasury Vincent Mbito and his four brothers at the Mombasa Law Courts on February 27, 2024. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

The Mbito family members are believed to have utilised a family-owned company to facilitate the embezzlement of public funds, implicating various sectors of the Kwale County Government in the process.

According to EACC, the current charges relate to 10 contracts fraudulently awarded to the companies; Rome Investments and Chilongola Limited; which were paid amounts of Sh44,919,341 and Sh4,007,943 respectively.

The total amount was distributed among the suspects.

The tenders, which they obtained in violation of procurement laws using forged documents, were for the supply and delivery of sanitation materials, food and ration, general office supplies, and institutional appliances.

The case is set for mention on March 12 for pre-trial.