10 senior officials in the Kilifi County Government are staring at possible jail term after they were directly linked to a Sh51 Million scandal.
The officials, who were arraigned in court on Wednesday, are accused of approving illegal payments to companies that allegedly transacted with the county.
The payments were made through mobile transfers and the infamous Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS), according to the county Chief Finance Officer, Ben Kai.
Appearing before Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondiek, Mr Kai submitted that after discovering the fraudulent dealings, he emailed the Central Bank requesting the cancellation of the transactions.
He further noted that he managed to recover only Sh8 Million as some of the transactions went through even after they were voided.
"I wrote a letter to IFMIS [managers], CBK, Treasury, the anti-banking fraud unit and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission for investigations on the theft of Sh45 Million," Kai noted.
According to Kai, Daima One enterprise, Zohali Ltd, Makegra Ltd, Leadership Edge Ltd, Kilingi Ltd and Jahazi Ltd are complicit in the transfer of cash.
Besides the county senior accountant, John Kalume, other county officials mentioned in the case include Accountant John Nyamawi, Treasury Deputy Director Paul Mwazo, Senior Health Accountant Jacob Konde, Chief Health Officer Timothy Malingi.
Others are Lennox Mwazoya (Roads and Transport inspector), Dickson Tembo (Agriculture Clerical Officer) Josephine Muramba (Education Principal Accountant) and Daniel Baha Nguma (Chief Officer, Agriculture).
The county officials were released on a Sh5 Million bond with a surety of a similar amount. The hearing continues on October 25 and October 27.
