The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Friday, October 18, made arrests following investigations into the procurement of Audit Vault Software by the Office of the Auditor-General.
EACC in a press release revealed that they had been probing the office of the Auditor-General over corruption allegations relating to the irregular purchase of an audit vault software that cost Ksh100.6 million from Open Systems Integrations (OSI) Kenya, a company purporting to be the only accredited partner of Oracle Kenya.
The commission established a lack of jurisdiction for single sourcing and the money paid was grossly exaggerated. Oracle Kenya is said to have received only Ksh36 million from the entire amount.
The EACC learned that the Ksh64 million deficit was paid to public officials, private individuals and companies associated with them.
As per section 35 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, and a file submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution for review, the EACC was granted the consent to charge 24 individuals and entities with the following offenses; Conspiracy to commit an economic crime, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, dealing with suspect property and money laundering.
The commission arrested former Deputy auditor general Stephen Ndung'u Kinuthia, Justice Ongera Director ICT office of the auditor general, Anette Mwangi Manager of IT office of the auditor general, Desmond Irungu Kinuthia Director Enkei Holdings Limited, Nelson Karanja Kinuthia Director Enkei Holdings Limited and Charles Mbugua Njuguna Partner at Njuguna and Partners who will be arraigned in court pending processing.
EACC also ordered the following to surrender to the integrity center; Charles Githinji Gichobi sales executive, Oracle systems Kenya Limited, Ephantus Kaire Kahwae non-executive director OSI Kenya, Sylvestre Kiptoo Kiplagat non-executive director OSI Kenya, and Patrick Shem Maina managing director OSI Kenya,
Also instructed to surrender are: Charmine Kinuthia director Enkei Holdings limited, Charles Mwaduna Director Mars technology limited, Edward Mulewa Mwachinga dire ctor mars technology limited, Jane Wangui Kinuthia director Nanazi Investment limited, Florence Waithira Kinuthia director Nanazi investment limited and James Gachoka partner Amolo Gachoka and Company Advocates.
