Ruto Impersonator in Tender Scam Freed

Starehe MP Charles Njagua, popularly Jaguar, (left) and Deputy President William Ruto.
Starehe MP Charles Njagua, popularly Jaguar, (left) and Deputy President William Ruto.
File

The sixth suspect charged with defrauding a businessman for over Ksh180 million in a laptops tender using Deputy President William Ruto's name, has been freed.

The suspect, James William Makokha, was freed on a Ksh 500,000 cash bail after he denied three counts of fraud before Milimani Senior Resident Magistrate Sinkiyian Tobiko.

Makokha was charged for allegedly forging a document under the name of the office of the Deputy President with an intent of supplying 2,800 laptops valued at Ksh180 million.

The Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi as pictured on November 18, 2019.
The Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi as pictured on November 18, 2019.
Simon Kiragu
Kenyans.co.ke

The suspect, who did not have representation, was accused of also obtaining goods from Makindu Motors Limited along Mombasa-Nairobi Highway on false pretense.

The case is set to be mentioned on October 16, 2020, before magistrate Martha Mutuku.

The six are accused of defrauding Stephen Ngei Musyoka, pretending to be officials of the DP's office.

The magistrate also issued a third warrant for the arrest of another suspect in the case who had frustrated consolidation of the five cases for the third time on Monday after she failed to show up in court.

Ruto's Harambee House Annex has been the victim of a reported number of fraud cases.

This is despite the government's announcing that all procurement tenders be uploaded to the government portal. 

"The Public Procurement Information Portal is an online platform provided by Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) for publication of contract awards and tender notices by Procuring Entities," reads a statement on its website. 

Early this year, there was a controversy where former Sports CS Rashid Echesa was alleged to have used Ruto's office and the signature of Defense Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma to close the multi-billion shilling deals to supply military surveillance equipment and guns.

A file image of James William Makokha alias Mr Wanyonyi
A file image of James William Makokha alias Mr Wanyonyi
Daily Nation
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