Tobiko Orders Prosecution of Garissa Officer for ‘Stealing’ Relief Food

In a letter seen by the Citizen Digital and signed by the director of public prosecution, Tobiko says: “Having perused the inquiry file and considered therein, I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to sustain the following charges”.

“Fraudulently acquisition of public property, alternative county of fraudulent disposal of property contrary to section 45[1][b] and deceiving principle contrary to section 41[1] of anti corruption and economic crime act.”

Last year, when the allegation of stealing relief food came up in the media, a cross section of leaders and civil society called on the government to investigate the commissioner’s conduct, saying it was totally unethical for a government official to steal from the poor and vulnerable members of the society.

WATERTIGHT CASE

Speaking to the press, the deputy director in charge of EACC North Eastern Region Abraham Kemboi said that his office has a watertight case to prosecute Mr Kyenza who retired last month and a store clerk at Abdulllahi S Ahmed.

He said that forensic investigations had revealed that Kyenza was using non-existent, fictitious names as beneficiaries of relief food in the poverty-stricken areas.

Kemboi noted that the EACC office in Garissa could initially not trace 500 bags of rice that had allegedly been misappropriated by the deputy county commissioner because they had been stripped off government identification and that they had no evidential value.

Out of the 175 cases that Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta handed over to Parliament pending their prosecution, the EACC regional office is investigation 20 cases from the northern region, including three governors of Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.