A court ruling to freeze assets linked to Nyandarua County’s former Chief Finance Officer, Michael Kamau Kuria, led to the revelation of how he used his mother and wife to drain the county accounts for personal gain.
Justice Mumbi Ngugi made the ruling following a request by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) who are investigating Mr Kuria in relation to Ksh296 million believed to have been siphoned from the county's coffers.
His wife, Catherine Wanjiku Njeri, mother Agnes Wanjiku Kuria and business associate Henry Njoroge Gathiga were also ordered to surrender their high-end vehicles.
“The four are prohibited whether by themselves or through persons acting on their behalf from disposing of the listed properties, dealing with the motor vehicles or transferring the money in the accounts for a period of six months,” Justice Ngugi ruled.
The commission claimed that Mr Kuria had stolen Ksh115 million and amassed property worth an estimated Ksh181 million in just under 3 years.
“Our investigations have revealed that Kuria and his associates received the money from Nyandarua County Government through fraud and bribery. He tried to conceal his acts by acquiring properties spread across the country,” stated EACC lawyer, Pius Wanyoike.
The prosecution argued that it was virtually impossible for the former CFO to be able to acquire assets worth the quoted figure between January 2014 and December 2017 based on his salary.
Reports from EACC investigations revealed that Mr Kuria conspired with his mother and wife to set up proxy companies as soon as he assumed office, which they then used to award themselves lucrative tenders.
“The companies were awarded various contracts by the Nyandarua County Government in a manner not consistent with procurement rules, a clear conflict of interest, abuse of office, bribery, and corruption,” stated Abel Maravu – the lead EACC investigator attached to the case.
Wanjohi Contractors and General Supplies Ltd, Olkalau Ventures, Kanjuri General Contractors, Kaimbaga Enterprises, Githioro Contractors, Jilsu General Contractors, and Silverdola Supplies Ltd were identified as the companies they used in the alleged scam.
