Interior ministry cleaner faces corruption charges for fraudulently receiving Sh186M for fake supplies

A cleaner at the Ministry of Interior's Department of Correctional Services who received Sh186,905,500 from the department as payment for supplying air is facing corruption charges.

Eric Kipkirui Mutai is among the 14 individuals charged with fraudulent acquisition of public property after jointly and allegedly looting Sh301.9 million from the department between 2014 and 2018.

One of Mutai's companies – Homex Logistics Supplies was paid Sh62,560,000 in slightly over one month between May 7, 2017 and June 16 of the same year for goods and services that were not supplied or needed at the department.

During the same period, his other companies -Unique Supplies and Hygienic Ventures- where he is the sole proprietor were paid Sh73,342,500 and Sh51,003,000 for supplying nothing.

Mutai is facing charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to section 45 (1) (a) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act (ACECA).

Mutai is charged alongside others including Assistant Director of Supply Chain Management Services at the department – Mangeto Omari Mirieri who is facing charges of abuse of office after allegedly approving the payments to him and others.

Others charged with abuse of office in contravention of section 46 as read with section 48 of the ACECA include Sarah Kemunto Kerandi, a chief finance officer and Moses Sirengo, a senior accountant at the Ministry respectively.

Their accomplice at the Kenya Prisons Service who allegedly participated in the fraud will be charged with similar charges on Monday, July 22.

A proprietor of one of the companies paid for fictitious goods and services Maureen Ndungwa Mwikya who was paid Sh4,780,000 on February 13, 2018, was also charged with fraud.

She owns Reenn East Africa Company which was allegedly listed for the illegal payments.

Mutai, Sirengo and Mwikya were also charged with money laundering contrary to section 3 (a) (i) as read with section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-money Laundering Act after allegedly colluding to transfer the funds to a property developer where they acquired apartments in Nairobi.

Sirengo and Mwikya are accused of arranging for the transfer of Sh4 million to Housing Finance Development for the purchase of an apartment in Komarock in Nairobi, knowing the same was the proceeds of crime, to disguise the source of the money.

Sirengo is also accused of colluding with Mutai to transfer the Sh8.5 million from Unique Supplies to Housing Finance Development for the purchase of a house in Nairobi to disguise the cash.

More suspects and their companies will be charged on Monday.  The suspects who appeared before Senior Principal Magistrate Celesa Okore were released on a bond of Sh7 million and a bond of a similar amount each.

The suspects can also deposit a cash bail of Sh4 million to secure their freedom during trial.

They were also ordered to deposit their travelling documents with the court. The case will be mentioned on August 2.