Malindi, Kenya – In a significant development, nine additional individuals were arraigned before a Malindi court, connected to the corruption scandal involving the Sh8.5 billion Ronald Ngala Utalii College project in Vipingo, Kilifi County. This latest development increases the total number of accused persons to 12 in this high-profile case.
According to Kenya News Agency, these individuals face charges related to the construction project, joining three others, including former Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and former Principal Secretary Ms. Leah Gwiyo, who previously denied charges of abuse of office and contravening a Cabinet decision. The arraignment took place before Malindi Chief Magistrate James Mwaniki, who also presided over the bond hearings.
The nine accused pleaded not guilty to joint and separate charges. Chief Magistrate Mwaniki granted them release on varying bond terms, reflecting the nature of the charges against each individual. The case is set for mention on January 11, 2024.
In the same session, a ruling was deferred on an application to restrict the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) from publicly sharing investigation details through the media. Defense lawyers argued that such disclosures could lead to public prejudice against the accused, potentially resulting in a miscarriage of justice.
Among those released were former Chief Executive Officers of the Catering, Tourism, and Development Levy Trustees, Allan Chenane and Joseph Cherutoi. They were granted bond on charges of failing to comply with procurement laws, linked to irregular payment approvals totaling over Sh683 million for consultancy services related to the college’s design and contract management.
Two directors of Baseline Architects Limited, Morris Njue and Dominic Motanya, along with the sole proprietor of Ujenzi Consultants, were also released on bond. Their companies are accused of inflating consultancy fees amounting to over Sh1.1 billion for the project.
Nora Mukuna, the Catering, Tourism, and Development Levy’s Procurement Manager, and tender committee members Eden Odhiambo, Ruth Wanyangu Sande, and George Muya Njoroge, were released on bond for charges related to procurement law violations and failure to verify consultancy service requests for the college project.
Summonses were issued for five additional suspects who have yet to plead in the case, including one individual reportedly residing abroad.
Previously, on December 28, 2023, Najib Balala, Ms. Leah Gwiyo, and Joseph Odero, a partner with Westconsult Engineers, were arraigned. Balala and Gwiyo faced charges of misusing their office to benefit four consulting firms, while Odero was accused of receiving over Sh292 million by overbilling the Tourism Fund for consultancy work.