Kilifi acting chief health officer Sh51 million theft case transferred to Nairobi
Lawyer Shem Oduor Odeck (left) makes his submissions in a Kilifi court on December 6, 2016 when his client Stephen Mutua Ngunzi and two other suspects were charged in the theft of Sh51 million funds from the Kilifi County government. PHOTO | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Nguma’s case will now be joined with two others transferred to Nairobi last December involving eight senior county officers suspended by Governor Amason Kingi after passwords were said to have been used to steal the Sh51 million through Internet banking transfers.
- He was charged alongside the eight with fraud and theft but failed to plead to charges after the High Court issued temporary orders blocking the process.
The High Court in Malindi has transferred to Nairobi a case linking Kilifi's acting Chief Health Officer Baha Nguma to the theft of Sh51 million from the county's Central Bank account.
Resident Judge Said Chitembwe moved the case following Chief Justice David Maraga's directive that all corruption cases be heard before the Anti-Corruption Division High Court in Nairobi.
The judge also extended temporary orders stopping Inspector-General of Police Joseph Boinnet, Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission from harassing, arresting and charging him.
Mr Nguma’s case will now be joined with two others transferred to Nairobi last December involving eight senior county officers suspended by Governor Amason Kingi after passwords were said to have been used to steal the Sh51 million through Internet banking transfers.
He was charged alongside the eight with fraud and theft but failed to plead to charges after the High Court issued temporary orders blocking the process.
SUSPENSIONS QUASHED
The judge also quashed Governor Kingi’s decision to suspend the county officials and reinstated them to their work stations until the case is heard and determined.
The suspended officials are Lenox Mwadzoya (roads and transport inspector), Paul Mwazo (county treasury deputy director), John Kalume, (finance senior accountant) and education principal accountant Josephine Muramba.
Others are Johnson Nyamawi Gambi (finance senior accountant), Timothy Malingi (health chief officer), Dickson Tembo (agriculture clerical officer), Jacob Konde (senior health accountant).
Also suspended after they were linked to the Sh51 million theft but were left out in the charge sheet are Lilian Hariri (health clerical officer) and water accountant Vivian Sidi Nzai.
Already, four directors of the five companies suspected to have fraudulently received the Sh51 million have been charged and released on cash bail of Sh1 million each.
Governor Kingi has also sued Zohali Services Ltd, Makegra Supplies Ltd, Kilingi Supplies Ltd, Daima Enterprises Ltd and Leadership Edge Associates Ltd, which are said to have fraudulently received the Sh51 million through Internet banking transfers.
