DPP approves graft charges against four Taita Taveta county officials

The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has approved corruption charges against four senior officials from Taita Taveta County, including Governor Andrew Mwadime's Economic Advisor, Thomas Jumwa.

This development follows a thorough investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which forwarded the investigation files to the DPP.

The officials facing graft charges include Liverson Julius Mghendi, the former County Secretary; Christine Mawonfo Mwakera, the former Chief Officer of Finance; and Leonard Lagat, the former Chief Officer of Trade, Tourism, and Co-operative Development.

The DPP's statement on Wednesday indicated that the officials will be charged with multiple offences, including conspiracy to commit a corruption offence, engaging in a project without prior planning, and unlawful acquisition of public property.

Other charges include uttering false documents and failing to comply with expenditure procedures.

In a statement, the DPP emphasised its commitment to upholding the rule of law and acting in the public interest.

"The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) remains committed to executing its constitutional mandate in accordance with the rule of law and further, with due regard to the public interest, the administration of justice, and prevention of the abuse of legal process," it read.

The EACC had previously arrested the four officials for allegedly embezzling over Sh7 million, purportedly under the guise of organising World War I commemoration events.

The arrests, which occurred on a Tuesday, followed extensive investigations by the EACC.

The officials are currently being processed at the EACC Lower Coast Regional Offices in Mombasa.

Concerns over the misuse of public funds by county leadership have been escalating. The EACC's fourth quarterly report highlighted a taxpayer-funded trip to Zanzibar by Members of the County Assembly (MCAs), which was characterised as a "bonding and merry-making" event.

This trip reportedly cost over Sh7 million, with claims of exaggerated expenses. Some MCAs were overpaid, while others received allowances without travelling.

Further scrutiny revealed that senior officials were also involved in embezzling over Sh4 million during celebrations for the World War I event in November 2022.

Integrity Centre, the headquarters of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission on Jakaya Kikwete-Valley Road Junction in Nairobi. (Photo: EACC)

The Commission has called for immediate accountability and recovery of the misappropriated funds.

"Besides the prosecution of suspects, EACC will pursue recovery of the lost funds," the Commission stated.

In 2023, Governor Mwadime placed the four officials on compulsory leave due to financial irregularities.

Despite this action, County Assembly Speaker Wisdom Mwamburi indicated that the Assembly would continue its investigations into the alleged financial mismanagement.

On March 1, 2023, MCA Azhar Din questioned the tourism committee about the fund usage during the World War I event, seeking a detailed expenditure breakdown and clarification on the event's economic benefits to residents.

Speaker Mwamburi confirmed that the Assembly aimed to address public concerns over potential waste and misappropriation.

The Assembly's Committee on Tourism, chaired by MCA Lilian Mwangoi, released its findings on July 18, 2023, revealing significant abuse of power during the planning and execution of the commemorative event. The report noted that the relevant county department failed to assert leadership, leaving the economic advisor to lead the initiative, resulting in substantial financial mismanagement.

Mwangoi emphasised the absence of an approved work plan or proper scope of work and highlighted violations of procurement laws as goods and services were procured through unauthorised means.

The report concluded that the county suffered financial losses amounting to over Sh4 million with no value for the funds expended, raising serious concerns over forgery and misappropriation.

The Committee has called for the immediate suspension of the implicated officials and urged the EACC to prosecute those responsible.

It also recommended that the officials be stripped of their responsibilities by the appointing authority, citing the irregular involvement of the governor's advisors in the event's planning and execution.