Arrest and charge Governor Njuki Muthomi with economic crimes, money laundering, DPP Haji orders

In soup: Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki [File, Standard[

In a roller-coaster of a day in the fight against graft, the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has ordered the prosecution of Tharaka Nithi Governor Muthomi Njuki and other county officials with an alleged fraudulent payment for a tender worth Sh34.9 million.

The DPP said he was satisfied with the evidence presented by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). The tender was for the supply, installation and commissioning of a solid waste incinerator in the county.

In a statement on Friday, the DPP said seven companies, most of which were closely associated with Governor Njuki, put in bids for the tender.

The companies include; Joeleave Merchants Ltd, Gentech Supplies and Services, Westomaxx Investment, Kenric Investment, Grey Spiral, Boiler Techniques Engineering and Plenser Ltd.

“The above mentioned companies underwent a tendering process and  Westomaxx Investments Limited, a company that had submitted fraudulent documents won the tender at the cost of Sh34,998,500,” DPP Haji said, adding that the project was procured without an environmental impact assessment.

Also to be charged alongside Njuki is Fridah Muthoni (chief officer of environment), Floridah Kiende (acting director of procurement), Highton Murithi (finance officer), Teresia Mburia (finance officer), Lee Mwenda (housing officer), Japhet Nkonge (procurement), Mike Murithi (accounts), Emily Micheni (procurement) and Elosy Matti (officer).

Others are Kenneth Ngai and Caroline Wambui both directors of Westomaxx Investment which sold the machine to the county government, and David Mwangi and Margaret Mugweru, both directors at Generation Electronics, the company which originally imported the machines.

In a stepped-up assault of graft suspects in the wake of public outcry, Jubilee National Vice Chairman David Murathe was grilled by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers over his alleged role in the Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) Covid-19 funds storm.

Murathe who had earlier indicated that he was at the Coast and could miss the session arrived at the EACC Madison House, Upper Hill, offices around 2:15pm where the questioning was taking place.

Murathe has been linked to Kilig Limited, a firm allegedly awarded Sh4 billion by Kemsa for the supply of 450,000 Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) at Sh9,000 each.

He has however maintained that he has nothing to do with the company and that some people were playing politics in the matter.

“I was not involved in supplying anything to Kemsa. Some people want to politicize the war on corruption,” Murathe said earlier.

The fiery Jubilee man said one of the directors of the said company is a friend, but he had not been involved.

“Willbroad Gatei Gachoka, one of the directors of Kilig Limited, is a longtime friend and business partner. We are consultants but I was not in the Kemsa deal,” he said, adding that he was a co-consultant with Gachoka but he had not participated in the KEMSA deal.

He told a television station that they had handled many projects together but not the KEMSA one.

Kiprono Kittony, the new Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) Board Chairperson Kiprono Kittony,  had a session with EACC officers.

Priscilla Murungi, the wife of Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi has also been summoned to shed light on her connection Caperina Enterprises Limited which allegedly received Sh45 million for the supply of 10,000 boxes of surgical masks to the medical agency.

Also to appear before the EACC team is former Karachuonyo MP James Rege who is reported to have loaned one of the companies that benefited from the scandal.