Former NACADA chief to be arraigned over alleged graft

National Authority for Campaign against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) former chief executive William Okedi and others are expected answer to corruption related charges on the 17th of this month.

The directions to appear on the 17th for plea taking were issued by magistrate Lawrence Mogambi after the lawyer representing Okedi asked the court to defer the plea taking to a later date saying his client is out of the jurisdiction.

According to the charge sheet presented in court, it is alleged that on the 14 of April 2013 in Nairobi William Okedi being the CEO of NACADA wilfully failed to comply with the law relating to procurement, by not ensuring that NACADA procured a consultant for the management of alcoholic Drinks Control funds set aside for the funding of civil society organisation through a prescribed method under the public procurement and disposal Act 2005.

Okedi also faces two other counts among them abuse of office.

He is charged alongside John Muturi, Florina Mwikali, Zeka Wekesa, Anthony Munyui and George Murimi.

Zeka Wekesa and Anthony Munyui however presented themselves in court on Wednesday but were not able to answer to the charges since the others were not in court.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) opened investigations into the alleged misappropriation of Sh99 million at the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA).