Financial advisor to Taita Taveta County Governor together with three other senior county officials were on Wednesday charged with embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds amounting to over ksh.4 million.
The four suspects, Thomas Jumwa Nyambu, Liverston Julius Mghendi, Christine Mawodo Mwakera and Leonard Langat were presented before Mombasa chief magistrate, Alex Ithuku where they were charged with embezzlling money amounting to over ksh.4 million by falsely claiming it was for the commemoration of World War 1.
The charges levelled against them include conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption contrary to section 47A of the Anti-corruption and economic crimes Act, engaging in a project without prior planning contrary to section 45(a) of the Anti-corruption and economic crimes Act CAP 63 laws of kenya, unlawful, Unlawful acquisition of public property, uttering false documents, and willful failure to comply with the applicable procedures and guidelines relating to incuring of expenditures contrary to section (2)(b) of the Anti-corruption and economic crimes Act.
Nyambu who is the current economic advisor to Governor Andrew Mwadime, Mghendi former County secretary, Langat former chief officer Finance and Wakera former county chief officer Trade, Tourism &Co-operative Development had on Tuesday been arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials for the offences they allegedly committed between 1st and 30th November 2022.
The four suspects were arrested after the Commission’s investigations revealed embezzlement and misappropriation of over 4 million shillings related to the annual event.
The commission commenced investigations upon receiving a complaint on April 5, 2023, alleging theft of public funds by senior county officials pupporting to be incurring the expenditure in commemoration of World War 1.
The court heard that upon conclusion of investigations, EACC established systematic abuse of office, fraudent dealings, and deliberate violation of procurement laws by the officials.
The court also heard that the accused persons conspired to commit an offence of corruption by engaging in the World War 1 commemoration event, which was not factored in the procurement plan or budgeted for in the financial year 2022/2023, thereby violating several provisions of the Anti-Corruption and Economic crimes Acts.
That, the procurement of suppliers was mared with massive fraud and irregularities and was also not competitive.
According to EACC, the suspects also, between November 24 and 27, 2022, unlawfully facilitated the procurement and payment for services related to the World War 1 commemoration event
Nyambu also faced eight other extra counts concerning the submission of forged documents, including presentation of fabricated receipts amounting to a significant sum of money for services allegedly rendered during the Purported event.
The four, however, pleaded not guilty to their charges and released on bond as follows; Thomas Jumwa Nyambu was released on a ksh.2 million shillings bond, with one surety or ksh.500,000 cash bail. The other three suspects were released on a ksh.1 million shillings bond, with one surety or Kshs.200,000 cash bail.
The matter was mentioned on November 7, 2024, for pretrial purposes.