Police Arrest Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o in Mombasa

File photo of Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o during a past media interview
A photo of Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o.
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Update: The Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang’o has been freed on a Ksh500,000 cash bail following her arrest in Mombasa. 
 
In a ruling at the Mombasa Court, Nyakang'o pleaded not guilty to four counts of conspiracy to defraud, operating a Sacco without a licence. 
 
Others include forgery and uttering a false document.  
 
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Controller of Budget Margaret Nyakang'o has been arrested in Mombasa for complaints filed against her in 2016.

In a notice by the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution Jacinta Nyamosi, Nyakang'o is among eleven individuals set to face four counts including conspiracy to defraud and operating a Sacco without a licence contrary to the Law.

Other offences included forgery and uttering a false document, contrary to section 353 of the penal code.

According to the ODPP, there was sufficient evidence to charge the suspects with the four offences.

Margaret Nyakang'o during her swearing in as CoB on Wednesday, December 4 2019
Margaret Nyakang'o during her swearing-in as CoB on Wednesday, December 4 2019.
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Judiciary of Kenya

The ODPP received a letter from the complainant on October 31, 2023, indicating the offences allegedly committed by the suspects.

ODPP noted that upon perusal and review of the documents, they revealed that there was sufficient evidence to charge the suspects. 

"The file was again resubmitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions through a letter dated October 31, 2023, for further directions and upon perusal of the new evidence, we find that the following persons are criminally culpable," the letter read in part. 

As the COB, Nyakang'o's role involves monitoring the use of public funds in both the national and county governments and preparing reports to Parliament on how the funds are utilised.

Since taking office on December 4, 2019, Nyakang'o has been unearthing various graft and loopholes within the government.

On March 7, 2023, Nyakang'o confessed that she was coerced to sign off Ksh15 billion days before the 2022 General Election. 

While appearing before the Parliamentary Public Petitions Committee, she tabled evidence of private chats with a former Cabinet Secretary who pressed her to release the money days before the election.

Nyakang'o responded to the messages, stating that she could not approve as she was out of the office. The former CS, however, responded, informing her that she needed to devise how to deal with the situation.

In September, she also raised the alarm over the Ksh15.3 billion spent by the National Treasury without approval.

Nyakang'o accused the Treasury of spending billions without following the law, expressing fears that the funds could be misused. 

A photo of Kenya National Assembly.
A photo of Kenya National Assembly.
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Parliament of Kenya
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