EACC files suit to recover Sh813 million from Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and 13 others
According to the Commission, its probe established that, during his tenure as Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, the governor allegedly abused his position to influence the award of tenders by KeNHA, KURA, and KeRRA to five companies associated with him between the 2018/2019 and 2021/2022 financial years.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has filed a civil suit at the High Court seeking to recover Sh813,145,532.40 from Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and 13 others, alleged to be proceeds of corruption.
The suit follows investigations by the Commission into claims of corruption, conflict of interest, and unlawful acquisition of public property against the respondents.
More To Read
- Court steps in after EACC and DPP fail to agree on Obado plea deal
- MPs demand answers over delayed sports academies project, summon officials
- EACC moves to recover Sh250 million public land in Kahawa Sukari
- Evans Kidero, nine others acquitted in Sh213 million corruption case
- EACC raids homes, offices of senior Sports officials over Sh3 billion graft claims
- National Assembly dismisses viral letter on Cabinet vetting as fake
According to the Commission, its probe established that, during his tenure as Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Roads, Transportation and Housing, the governor allegedly abused his position to influence the award of tenders by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA), the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA), and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) to five companies associated with him between the 2018/2019 and 2021/2022 financial years.
The investigation further established that, in abuse of his position of trust and in conflict of interest, he allegedly colluded with companies linked to him to engage in fraudulent practices through misrepresentation of facts by allegedly submitting forged or falsified bid documents, calculated to fraudulently secure tenders and falsely demonstrate technical capacity to undertake the works, to the detriment of the public.
“In furtherance of the fraudulent schemes, Wamatangi concealed his interest in companies irregularly awarded contracts by purporting to relinquish directorship to close family members and proxies. Investigations, however, revealed that he remained a signatory to the companies’ bank accounts and continued to transact on them, making him the beneficial owner of the companies involved in the fraudulent dealings,” EACC states in the suit papers.
Cumulatively, the EACC says Wamatangi and his co-defendants allegedly received a total of Sh726,483,442.40 from KeNHA and KURA, and Sh86,662,090.00 from KeRRA during the period under investigation.
The Commission adds that these payments were irregular, unlawful, and constituted proceeds of corruption. Consequently, the EACC has sought to preserve the assets pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
An application for an injunction is scheduled for hearing on November 18.
The payments were allegedly made to the following companies: Quick Fix Auto Garage Ltd, which received Sh18,796,070.00 from KeRRA; King Realtors Co. Ltd, which received Sh16,698,272.00; King Group Co. Ltd, which received Sh8,541,195.00 from KeRRA and Sh21,296,216.30 from KURA; King Construction Co. Ltd, which received Sh18,242,370.00 from KeRRA and Sh420,782,675.70 from KeNHA; and Lub Plus Oil & Energy Co. Ltd, which received Sh24,384,183.00 from KeRRA, Sh37,941,906.30 from KURA, and Sh246,462,644.05 from KeNHA.
Top Stories Today
