Ex-NACADA boss to face graft charges

Former NACADA CEO, William Okedi, corruption case will proceed. This is after High Court Judge, Hedwig Ongudi, ruled that the application by Okedi to have the charges leveled against him dropped has no merit.

“I find no merit in the notice of Motion dated August 22, 2016, to make this court halt the criminal proceedings. The application is dismissed,” ruled Justice Ongundi.

The court further ruled that Okedi is at liberty to raise preliminary issues he may want before the trial court.

Okedi was charged with failure to comply with procurement laws contrary to the Corruption and Economic Crimes Act and abuse of office.

He denied that he failed to ensure NACADA procured a consultant to manage the Alcoholic Drinks Control Fund. The fund was set aside for civil society.

He is also accused of failing to follow proper procedures when he approved a payment of Ksh 12.8 million to Ernst & Young, which was contracted to manage the Alcoholic Drinks Control Fund.

According to the prosecution the offense was allegedly committed between May 2013 and October 2015.

He is also facing an abuse-of-office charge stating that he conferred on Ernst & Young a benefit in the contract for the provision of financial management agency services.

He is out on a cash bail of Ksh 1 million.