EACC seizes ex-Governor's properties worth Sh80M

Ex-Samburu Governor Moses Kasaine Lonolkulal. [Wilberforce Okwiri, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured a court mandate to confiscate four properties from ex-Samburu Governor Moses Kasaine Lonolkulal, suspected to be proceeds of crime, valued at over Sh80 million.

In a judgement delivered at Milimani Law Courts, Lady Justice Esther Maina ordered Lonolkulal to relinquish Sh14.6 million, previously frozen and pay the EACC's legal costs.

The properties in Karen, Nairobi, were reportedly purchased with corrupt funds from the Samburu County Government. Lonolkulal must now repay Sh 80,763,715.35 or surrender the properties.

EACC's Eric Ngumbi stated that the ruling arose from a lawsuit against Lonolkulal for unlawfully obtaining the money through a county contract.

Between 2013/2014 and 2018/2019, payments for fuel supplies were made to account number 1124724591 at Kenya Commercial Bank, linked to Oryx Service Station Limited, which Lonolkulal used to acquire the Karen properties.

Justice Maina declared that illegally contracted public funds are the proceeds of corruption and should revert to the state.

She highlighted Lonolkulal's self-awarded contract as a legal breach.

On July 13, 2023, the anti-corruption court found the former governor with a case to answer and put him on his defence.

Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki said that based on the evidence adduced by 11 prosecution witnesses and 388 documentary exhibits, the Court was satisfied that a case had been established against the governor and his co-accused. They were, thus, put on their defence.

If found guilty, Lonolkulal will be liable to a fine not exceeding Sh 1 million, imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years, or both.

He also risks an additional mandatory fine equal to two times the amount of the benefit acquired by the accused or the loss suffered by the public.