Ex-KPLC Boss Ben Chumo Arrested Over Economic Crimes

Former Kenya Power Managing Director Ben Chumo was on Saturday arrested by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over economic crimes.

This comes barely 2 weeks after he was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to be the new Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) Chairman.

According to an initial statement from the DCI, also arrested were Kenya power bigshots; General Manager, Corporate Affairs & Company Secretary Beatrice Meso and General Manager, Network Management Benson Muriithi.

A correction was, however, issued by the same agency noting that Muriithi had not been arrested and they were in pursuit of Peter Mwicigi,General Manager Regional Co-ordination

"Mr. Peter Mwicigi,General Manager Regional Co-ordination arrested and not Mr. Benson Muriithi, General Manager, Network Management as earlier reported.The latter is advised to report at his nearest Police Station for processing," the DCI clarified.

[caption caption="Peter Mwicigi"][/caption]

The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji is expected to present cases against the trio on several serious charges.

"They are to be charged with offences of conspiring to commit an offence of economic crime namely fraudulent acquisition of public property, aiding commission of a felony, abuse of office, willful failure to comply with the law relating to procurement among other charges," a statement from the DCI read in part.

DCI further announced that investigators were "hot on the heels of other suspects".

Chumo retired as Kenya Power MD in January 2017 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60.

Following his nomination to replace Sarah Serem at the SRC, he was to be vetted by lawmakers on July 23.

Clerk of the National assembly Michael Sialai had announced that Chumo would be vetted by the Departmental Committee on Finance and National Planning.

[caption caption="Beatrice Meso"][/caption]

UPDATES:

13:26 PM: The story was updated to indicate the correction made by the DCI following their initial statement on those arrested.

 

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