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Former KNTC Managing Director Pamela Nduku Mutua before the Trade Committee on November 2, 2023. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]
Former Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) Managing Director Pamela Nduku Mutua and the supply chain manager were Tuesday charged over the multi-million edible oil scandal of 2022.
Appearing before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki Mutua, the former KNTC boss and the manager of supply, chain, and logistics Amos Juma Sikuku denied five graft charges of abuse of office and failure to comply with procurement laws while awarding the tender to Purma Holdings Limited, a company associated with a city businesswoman.
The Director of Public Prosecution informed the court that Mutua being the MD and the accounting officer of the KNTC on December 5, 2022, willfully failed to comply with the law relating to the procurement by failing to report to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) after issuance of notification of award to Purma Holdings Limited.
The former KNTC boss faced a second count of failing to obtain requisite approval before the commencement of procurement of bulk commodities.
In the three other charges, Mutua is accused of committing similar offences by failing to report to PPRA after the award of tenders to three other companies- Multi Commerce FZC, Standard Petroleum LLC and Makram Imports and Exports.
The former MD is also accused of failing to comply with section 104 (c) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act (PPAD) of 2015 by failing to obtain the requisite approval before the commencement of procurement of bulk commodities. She is accused of committing the offence on November 8, 2022.
Sikuku faced a charge of abuse of office in contravention of section 101 as read with section 102 (a) of the Penal Code.
"On November 16, 2022, within the republic of Kenya, being the Supply Chain manager of KNTC you arbitrarily issued a professional opinion in a tender of bulk commodities that was prejudicial to the interests and rights of the republic,” reads the charge against Sikuku.
The duo denied the charges and urged the court to release them on lenient cash bail saying they are unemployed.
The defence lawyer said it had been reported that the two were to face charges of loss of millions shillings yet the charge sheet in court did not mention the amount of money.
The magistrate released Mutua on a bond of Sh 5 million and an alternative cash bail of Sh1.5 million while Sikuku was released on a bond of Sh1 million and an alternative cash bail of Sh500,000.
The case will be mentioned on August 12 for pretrial.
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting,
digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading
multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
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