Atwoli loses bid to prosecute NSSF directors in contested Taasia II project

The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General, Francis Atwoli, on Friday, October 21 lost bid to privately prosecute six National Social Security Fund (NSSF) directors over the Taasia II Housing Scheme.

A Magistrate Court in Nairobi acquitted former National Housing Corporation (NHC) Managing Director, James Ruitha, and five senior officials who had been charged with illegally allocating their spouses houses.

Ruitha was charged alongside NHC Secretary, Elizabeth Mbugua, Finance Manager, Manasseh Wandabwa, Technical Manager, Bernard Ogolla, Legal Officer, William Keitany and Chief Estates Officer, John Agutu.

The accusations ranged from abuse of office to failure to disclose their private interests in allocating the houses to their spouses and relatives.

Anti-Corruption Magistrate, Felix Kombo, ruled that the evidence produced in court did not meet threshold to convict the six officials.

A total of 21 witnesses testified.