They include Robert Bosuben, Senior Clerical Officer of the KPA Civil Engineering Department, Rose Cherotich, Account Signatory of Chemiso East Africa, and Idd Arube Nanyang and Azenath Kwamboka Mageto, agents for the agency.

Others include Yobesh Oyaro, the former KPA head of procurement and supply, as well as David Angwenyi, Norah Mugambi, and Athanase Wambari, members of the KPA tender evaluation committee.

The accused persons were charged with fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to Section 45(1)(a) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003, as well as conflict of interest contrary to Section 42(3) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2003.

They 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, No. 9 of 2009, and obtaining contracts from public institutions by false pretense contrary to Section 313 of the Penal Code, as well as forgery contrary to Section 348 as read together with Section 349 of the Penal Code and uttering false documents contrary to Section 353 of the Penal Code.

All the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and the court released Bosuben, Cherotich, Nanyang and Mageto on a Ksh 2 million bond with one surety of a similar amount or alternative cash bail of Ksh 500,000 each. Oyaro, Angwenyi, Mugambi and Wambari were released on a Ksh 1 million bond with one surety of a similar amount or an alternative cash bail of Ksh 100,000 each.

The prosecution, through Principal Prosecution Counsel Alex Gituma and Prosecution Counsel Yassir Mohamed, did not object to the release of the accused on bond.

The pre-trial conference is scheduled for 7th February 2024.

Written By: Peter Maseke.