Five people arrested in Ksh.450M prisons' tender scandal, 8 more summoned

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested four more individuals linked to the embezzlement of public funds, amounting to Ksh.450.14 million, at the State Department for Correctional Services during the Financial Years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.

This follows the Thursday morning arrest of one Eric Kipkirui Mutai, a cleaner from the aforesaid department and director of seven companies which reportedly received Ksh.257 million of the embezzled funds.

The four suspects are; Sarah Kemunto Kerandi (Chief Finance Officer), Moses Juma Sirengo (Principal Accountant), Jack Nyariango Ogao (Accountant) and Maureen Ndungwa (Director of one of the companies involved).

Jointly, the five suspects are part of 13 individuals linked to the scheme. The quintet is currently undergoing processing at the EACC Integrity Center Police Station.

They will remain in custody pending arraignment before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Friday, July 19, 2024, at 9am.

"The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has today arrested 5 out of 13 suspects to be charged with various offences relating to embezzlement of public funds amounting to Ksh.450,138,000 at the State Department for Correctional Services," EACC Deputy CEO Abdi Mohamud said in a statement to newsrooms.

"This relates to fraudulent tenders for purported supply of food and ration to various prison stations by seventeen (17) companies linked to the officials during the Financial Years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018."

Additionally, Mohamud ordered the eight remaining persons of interest to avail themselves before the Commission on Friday by 8am.

"The Commission hereby orders the following eight (8) suspects who are yet to be arrested to report to EACC, Nairobi Integrity Center Offices or to the nearest EACC Office not later than Friday,  July 19, 2024, 8:00 am, without fail," said Mohamud.  

They are; Benjamin Njoga (Former Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons), Mageto Omani Mirieri, (Assistant Director Supply Chain Management Services), Joseph Kamau Mwangi (Head of Accounts) and accountants Humphrey Wende Abok and Jack Nyariango Ogao.

The rest are; Ochoki Joseph Omaiyo (Prison Warder), Stephen Kisonzo Mulwa (Director of eight of the companies involved) and Joseph Kariuki Mwangi, a director of one of the companies involved.