Thika Technical Institute officials arraigned over Ksh.27M theft

Seven suspects arrested over the weekend in connection with misappropriation and embezzlement of funds at Thika Technical Training Institute were on Monday arraigned at the Thika law courts.

The seven; Jefferson Kariuki (first accused), Mary Mumbua (second accused), John Mwangi (third accused), Michael Gacheru (fourth accused), Samuel Gakumo (fifth accused), Johnson Kihumba (sixth accused), and Eunice Njuguna Wairimu (seventh accused) appeared before Thika Chief Magistrate Theresa Murigi and faced 12 counts collectively.

Mr. Kariuki, Mr. Mwangi and Mr. Gacheru were accused that between June 30, 2016 to December 30, 2017 – being persons employed in the public service as Principal, Chairman of the Board of Governors and Bursar in the said institution respectively – stole Ksh.19,332,487 by virtue of their employment.

Mr. Kariuki, Ms. Mumbua and Mr. Gacheru were also charged with a second count of abuse of office. They were charged that between June 30, 2016 and July 30, 2018, they used their respective offices to arbitrary direct to be issued public funds totaling Ksh.26,675,336.

On the third count, the first, second and third accused persons were charged that on the mentioned dates they willingly neglected to protect public funds under their care.

The fourth and seventh accused, on the fourth count, were charged with making statements, between June 1, 2014 and July 30, 2018, which were to their knowledge false with intent to deceive the government.

The first, third and fourth accused persons also faced a charge of  making a payment of Ksh.736,500 with intent to defraud the institution and without any lawful authority.

The three also faced another count of making a payment for Ksh.472,450 and another one for Ksh.445,000 while the second and sixth accused persons faced a similar count of making a payment of Ksh.247,000 with intent to defraud and without any lawful authority or excuse.

The first, second, third, fifth and sixth accused persons faced another charge of willful failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to management of public funds by unlawfully making payments of Ksh.27, 981,233 belonging to Thika Technical Training Institute.

Justice Murigi released the seven suspects on Ksh.3 million bond each with a surety of a similar amount or cash bail of Ksh.2 million.

The case will be mentioned on October 22, 2018 while the hearing was slated for January 31, 2019.