Three senior officials at Governor Charity Ngilu’s Kitui County Government were arrested on Thursday night in relation with Sh1 billion tender fraud.
EACC detectives nabbed Kitui County Finance boss June Mawiya Munyao, Jeremiah Nguli Kisilu and Rodgers Makau Sande – chairman and secretary of the Tender Evaluation Committee respectively — after the Director Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji gave the green-light for their prosecution.
The commission has directed Shadrack Muli Munyithia, the Lands, Infrastructure and Urban Development chief officer, and Joshua Kalola Munya, the head of supply chain management, to present themselves at its headquarters at Integrity Centre immediately.
Yesterday, EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak said the five will be charged with abuse of office and fraudulent practices in procurement over Sh800 million tender for construction of various roads and river drifts.
“The EACC has been conducting investigations into allegations that the county government irregularly awarded tenders for construction of various roads and river drifts at a cost of Sh891,039,308. Upon review of the report and the recommendations, the DPP gave the consent to immediately charge the suspects with several offenses, including abuse of office, fraudulent procurement procedure among others. The commission then arrested Munyao, Kisilu and Sande. They were held at Machakos police station and will be arraigned at Machakos Anti-corruption court,” Mbarak said.
Last year, Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu was grilled by EACC officers over claims of irregular appointment of one of her County Executive Committee members. Ngilu allegedly employed a CEC with questionable academic papers.
