The Sh2 billion tender probe in Samburu County intensified on Wednesday, with Ethics and Anti-corruption commission (EACC)raiding Governor Moses Lenolkulal's palatial home in Karen, Nairobi.
According to EACC detectives conflict of interest and embezzlement of funds in an organized and systematic pattern, involving county officials saw the county lose billions of shillings.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak revealed that over Sh1 billion was lost through awarding irregular contracts to contractors, for work partly or never done as top county officers received kickbacks in the process.
"The searches are in furtherance of investigations that the commission has been carrying out which have revealed that the county has lost over Sh2 billion in the past four years," said the commission's CEO Twalib Mbarak.
Although the county chief said on Thursday he was ready to be investigated and if found guilty bear the brunt, Standard Digital has learnt that, EACC has lifted the lid on a number of key properties owned by lenokulal, that is alleged to have been acquired in a span of four years, in an irregular manner .
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The EACC now wants his bank accounts and properties freezen, pending investigations.
Lenolkulal's prime properties
Among the key properties that EACC is investigating, is his palatial house in Karen said to be sitting on one acre piece of land, alleged to have been acquired in the financial year 2016/2017 which is valued at Sh300 million.
Lenolkulal's residence in Milimani Maralal Town is believed to be valued at Sh100 million, the house was acquired in the same financial year and is also on EACC radar.
The governor also owns a commercial residential apartments in Maralal Town, which EACC reveal was acquired in 2017 and is valued at Sh20 million.
Another property alleged to have been gotten fraudulently is his Red-rock Resort, along Maralal-Kisima road, built on a 5 acre piece of land, it is alleged to have been developed from funds acquired from the county coffers. The resort which has 20 cottages is estimated to cost Sh70 million.
The county boss owns Oryx filling station and Complex in the same town, valued at Sh90 million, and is also subject to investigation by the anti- graft body.
In what appears to be a well organized web of looting spree in Samburu County, EACC detectives have revealed that Sh637.2 million was paid to companies owned by county staffs, between July 2014 and July 2018. The details of the report indicate that Oryx Petrol Station owned by the governor was paid Sh73.9 million.
As Lenolkulal is expected to appear before the EACC on Monday for further investigations, it remains to be seen whether the receiving proxies of the fraudulent cash will be hunted down. Whether the lost funds will be recovered or not, will the EACC have to tighten its belt to avoid lack of evidence narrative, in this saga?
