Bomet County Government Procurement Officer Ezekiel Chirchir has been sentenced to five years in prison by a Kericho court.
Mr Chirchir was found guilty of abuse of office and fraud for the purchase of six ambulances worth Sh3.6 Million from the Kenya Red Cross.
Senior Principal Magistrate Joseph Ndururi noted that though Chirchir did not gain from the transaction, he had a responsibility to ensure goods, services, and works were procured in accordance with the law.
"It is public knowledge that a huge percentage of corruption-related cases in Kenya revolves around the issues of procurement. It is, therefore, necessary where clear evidence has emerged of malpractice in the procurement process that the court should hand down a sentence that would send a harsh message to those involved in such malpractice," Justice Ndururi stated.
He added: "The accused was entrusted with the authority to guard taxpayers’ money he had the option of nullifying the whole process but he chose not to. Though county government of Bomet did not lose any money in this process, the contract was procured without any competition at all. Further, the eleventh accused person who is a professional in procurement ought to have guided the entire process."
The Magistrate, however, acquitted 13 other senior county officials accused besides Chirchir.
In 2016, the county officials were arrested for fraudulently approving a Sh3.6 Million deal with the Kenya Red Cross for six ambulances.
They were charged with jointly and willingly failing to comply with the applicable procedure and guidelines relating to procurement contrary to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
The other officials include Bomet County Health Executive Stanley Kiplangat Cheruiyot, former Chief Finance Officer (CFO) Rose Kositany, Chris Magerer, John Rono, Sammy Kirui, Joel Arap Langat, Bernard Kosgei, Michael Cheruiyot, Bernard Chirchir, Peter Rotich, Corazon Chepkoech and Philip Cheruiyot.
