GDC MD Silas Simiyu, Secretary Saisi released on Sh8M bail

Geothermal Development Company (GDC) Managing Director Silas Simiyu and other senior executives on Tuesday appeared before a Nairobi court charged with abuse of office.

Simiyu and seven others were charged with flouting procurement rules in the awarding of a tender for transporting drilling rigs.

Nairobi’s anti-corruption Chief Magistrate Kennedy Bidali ordered that Simiyu and the company secretary Praxidis Saisi be released on a cash bail of Sh8 million each.

Bidali also ordered the other accused individuals in the case to be released on a cash bail of Sh5 million each. They are expected to be back in court on November 30 2015.

The suspects sought to contest the high cash bail accusing the court of punishing them before their case is heard and determined.

The Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko on Friday ordered the prosecution of Simiyu and other officials accused of irregularly awarding a contract for moving the company’s drilling rigs to private-owned company Bonfide Clearing and Forwarding Company in the financial year 2012/13.

The GDC officials were among the 20 government officials that were arrested by EACC on Monday.

The head of Kenya’s Pipeline Company Charles Tanui is set to appear before court on Wednesday over graft allegations following DPP Tobiko’s recommendations.

Companies and investors have cited the pervasive graft as one of the biggest challenges in doing business in Kenya and U.S. President Barack Obama had raised the issue when he visited this country in July.

This comes even as CORD Principal Raila Odinga on Tuesday claimed that the government is shielding individuals behind corruption allegations touching on the National youth Service (NYS).

In a statement sent to media houses, Raila said Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko’s orders for the prosecution of Devolution PS Peter Mangiti and National Youth Service Director General Nelson Githinji is a scheme by the government to protect the real culprits involved in the scam.

CORD leader Raila Odinga has claimed that the government is shielding individuals behind the corruption allegations at NYS.

He reminded President Uhuru Kenyatta to stay true to a resolution he reportedly made at a cabinet meeting that widened the role of cabinet secretaries to sanction procurement, previously a preserve of principal secretaries, and leading approval and attainment of targets and managing integrity and accountability matters.

Tobiko has however responded to the claims saying his office is transparent in the prosecution of individuals implicated in corruption.

Tobiko termed the allegations baseless and unwarranted saying it is  a ploy by political elite to politicize the legal process.