A civil servant working in the department of public roads could lose over Sh. 0.5 billion that was found stashed in some 22 bank accounts. Besides the money, the civil servant was found with some 27 properties, shares in multiple companies and schools. All these monies and properties have been linked to kickbacks from contractors to the State. They are worth some estimated Sh. 952.3 million. The civil servant was identified as Benson Muteti Musila who earns a salary of Sh. 390,000. He is the regional manager at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
According to a report that appeared in the Business Daily, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) was to seize up more than Sh. 1.03 billion. However, Musila satisfactorily explained properties with a cumulative value of Sh. 78.7 million.
“The commission pursuant to Section 55(2) of ACECA has instituted a suit seeking forfeiture of the above stated assets of Sh. 952,363,824.99 which were acquired at a time the Respondents were reasonably suspected of corruption or economic crimes,” the petition by the EACC said.
The report said Benson Muteti has been receiving kickbacks from contractors and was also awarded State tenders through a company associated with his brother. His properties are managed by his spouse, Zipporah Mwongeli.
“The public servant amassed the wealth between February 2009 and December 2018 where his pay, according to court documents, would have totalled to Sh. 136 million for the 119 months,” the report in the Business Daily said.
“The commission has completed investigations and established that in the period of interest the 1st respondent (Mr Musila) exploited his official position of trust in the public service during his employ at KeRRA for private gain by involving himself in transactions that were in conflict with public interest,” the EACC said.
