A civil servant with a Ksh1.1 billion net worth has lost control of his wealth amassed over time while working for the government.
The civil servant, who works for Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), owns property in four counties including Nairobi, Machakos, Makueni, and Kilifi.
Among the properties he has lost control over include two apartment blocks in Kariobangi, three apartments in Mathare, one apartment block in Dandora, six plots in Wote town, and two others in Athi River. The prime properties and apartments are valued at Ksh237 million.
The loss of control over his wealth follows a suit lodged against him by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), questioning how he acquired the properties and amasses such wealth while working as a civil servant.
Together with his wife, the civil servant, who is a regional manager at KeRRA, moved to court seeking to gain control of their seized properties among them two companies and three schools.
Through a ruling delivered by Justice Esther Maina on Thursday, February 3, the civil servant was barred from accessing his properties pending the determination of the suit filed by EACC.
“I have listened to submission by both parties; the court is convinced that the balance of convenience tilts in favour of EACC, and as such, I allow their application to freeze the assets, pending hearing and determination of the suit,” the Judge ruled.
His wife was also roped into the matter as the court blocked her from dealing in an apartment valued at Ksh5 million in Imara Daima Estate.
The couple has other properties worth Ksh100 million registered in their names and those of their schools.
The civil servant had nine bank accounts with different banking institutions across the country. His wife reportedly also had three accounts. They also operated eight other accounts registered under the schools they own.
“They are also restrained from selling or disposing of any of their five vehicles, transferring their shares at one of the banks worth Ksh2.2 million or redeeming their insurance policies worth Ksh20 million and at another insurance firm worth ksh10 million,” ruled Justice Maina.
The court heard that the civil servant was engaged in schemes to conceal the illicit assets in family members, including his wife and businesses registered in their names.
He was accused of accumulating the wealth from kickbacks from road contractors and in some instances retaining payments supposed to be remitted to other staff.
In total, EACC claims that the road’s engineer, his wife, and the companies accumulated assets in properties, bank and mobile money deposits, motor vehicles, listed shares, and insurance policies totalling Ksh1.19 billion.
In his reply to the accusation levelled against him, the civil servant dismissed the allegations as witch hunt noting that he could account for all his wealth.
With March 1 set for the next hearing, the civil servant maintained that he has a good track record insisting that he should be allowed to access his wealth.
