Two senior civil servants arraigned in court for soliciting a bribe

BY NIKKO TANUI

Two senior civil servants were on Thursday arraigned before an Anti- Corruption court in Kericho allegedly charged with five counts of corruptly soliciting for a bribe from a contractor.

Bureti District Officer of Health Dr Arthur Kiprono Korir and Sotik district ministry of lands, housing  and urban development works officer Eng. Jeff Ogutta, were charged with soliciting for a bribe contrary to section  39(3) as read with section  48(1) of the Anti-corruption and economic  crimes Act No.3 of 2003.

However, the officers pleaded not guilty to the charges facing them when they appeared before Kericho acting chief magistrate Samuel Soita.

In the first count, Dr. Korir was charged that on September 8, 2013 while at Splendid hotel in Litein he solicited for a Sh 50,000 bribe from a contractor, Robert Kipkorir Sigei as an inducement so as to facilitate the payment of Sh 364,842 retention fee for the completed Siomo modern health center in Konoin constituency.

In the second count, Eng. Ogutta was charged that on September 24 while at Sotik district works offices, in Bomet County he solicited for a Sh 30,000 bribe from a contractor as an inducement for the completed Siomo health center.

He also faced a third count, that on September 30, 2013 at Sotik district works offices, in Bomet County, he corruptly solicited for a Sh 30,000 from the same contactor as an inducement to facilitate payment of Sh 364,842  retention for the same health center.

In the fourth account, Dr. Korir was charged that on October 2 while at Sotik district works offices, in Bomet county, he solicited a Sh 50,000 bribe from Robert Kipkorir Sigei as an inducement so as to facilitate the payment of Sh 464,842 retention fee for the completed Siomo modern health center.

He also faced a fifth county that on the same day while at Kapkatet district hospital he corruptly received  a Sh 80,000 from Sigei as an inducement so as to facilitate the payment of Sh 364 retention fee for the completed Siomo modern health center.

The magistrate released the suspects on a bond of Sh 100,000 each with a surety of a similar amount or a cash bail of Sh 30,000. The hearing of their case was set for December 2, 2013 while the mention will be on October 24.