EACC probes former Machakos CEC over alleged Ksh.637M illicit wealth

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has obtained an injunction from the High Court to freeze two bank accounts jointly holding about Ksh.11.5 million belonging to a former Machakos County executive who is currently being probed in a Ksh.637 million graft case.

The injunction prevents one Urbanus Wambua Musyoka from transferring funds to and from the account as well as selling two motor vehicles, a parcel of land in Kibauni area and a house under construction in Machakos, pending hearing of the case on May 26, 2022.

“That the first defendant, his agents or any other persons is restrained from withdrawing, transferring, disposing of, wasting or in any other way, dealing with the funds held in the following bank accounts,” said High Court Judge Esther Maina.

EACC claims that between January 2014 and July 2021, Musyoka in his capacity as Machakos County’s CEC Member for Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperative Development allegedly fraudulently obtained funds that did not commensurate with his known sources of income

“The 1st Defendant received substantial successive cash deposits in his various bank accounts which he could not satisfactorily demonstrate the source. The Commission suspects that the same were bribes and proceeds of crime received by the 1st Defendant by virtue of his employment at the County Government of Machakos,” the petition reads in part.

According to EACC, between 2013 and 2015 Musyoka also awarded government tenders and contracts to companies linked to himself, his kin and acquaintances namely; Wisdom Holdings Ltd, Wemmar Enterprise Ltd, Wafih International Ltd, and Kikoto General Merchants.

In the period, Wafih International was wired Ksh.145.9 million while Wisdom Holdings obtained Ksh.166 million. Wemmar and Kikoto were transferred Ksh.55.8 million and Ksh.163.5 million respectively.

“Investigations by the Plaintiff revealed that between January 2014 and July 2021 the 1st Defendant awarded tenders amounting to Ksh.531,344,039 to companies associated to him,” read the petition.

“The 1st defendant acquired landed property and other assets valued at Ksh.105,809,831.00. The total cumulative value of all these assets less his salary earned during the period of interest amounted to Ksh.637,153,870.80.”

The four companies also allegedly failed to remit taxes to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) amounting to Ksh.181.7 million.