Ex-Nyeri County officials fined for flouting procurement law

Three former top Nyeri County Government officials have been fined Ksh 7.9 million each, or face three years in prison for flouting procurement laws and irregularly awarding of a tender worth Ksh 10 million.

John Maina (Executive Secretary in charge of Lands and infrastructure), Martin Wamwea (Finance) and Chief of Staff, Simon Wachira, were handed the fines by Chief Magistrate, John Oyiengo, of the Anti-Corruption court.

The three were charged with economic crimes involving irregular awarding of tenders and abuse of office.

Maina was accused of irregularly awarding a contract for consultancy of audit services to Pleng Kenya through direct procurement without the approval of the County Tender Committee.

His counterpart, Wamwea, was charged with abuse of office for allegedly authorizing the processing of Ksh 3,756,962.37 as payment to Pleng Kenya Ltd without the necessary supporting documents while Wachira was charged with two counts of failing to comply with procurement laws and improper use of public office.

The prosecution provided eight witnesses in the case.

The court ruled that each of the accused persons pay twice the amount of money that was lost in the offence or serve two years in prison.

Further, the suspects were each ordered to pay a fine of Ksh 400,000 or serve one year in prison, with the court saying the sentences should run concurrently.

In mitigation, the accused persons through lawyer Edward Oonge, prayed for non-custodial sentences arguing that they had consistently attended the proceedings.

The lawyer also said the accused had families which solely depended on them.