A former staffer at the State Department of Correctional Services has been charged with the fraudulent acquisition of at least Ksh302 million.
In a statement by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Humphrey Wende, together with 13 others, is suspected of having defrauded the state department of Ksh301,908,000 intended for goods that were never delivered.
“The prosecution revealed that between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018, Wende, along with co-defendants, fraudulently obtained Ksh301,908,000 intended for goods that were never delivered,” ODPP said on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
He is accused of using his office as Accountant I at the State Department of Prisons to confer a benefit of Kshs42,920,000 to Homex Logistics Enterprises, Ksh41,575,000 to Hygienic Ventures, Ksh45,152,500 to Unique Supplies, Ksh18,112,500 to Mulwa Farm, Ksh12,000,000 to Joslil General Supplies Limited, Ksh4,780,000 to Reenn East Africa Company, Ksh25,650,000 to C****o Suppliers, and Ksh50,875,000 to Stemu Supplies as payment for goods not supplied.
The charges at the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court suspect that Wende and others defrauded the State Department for Correctional Services by receiving payments for goods that were never supplied.
Accused persons
The other accused persons are former Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Benjamin Obuya Njoga, former Assistant Director of Supply Chain Management Mageto Omari, former Prisons principal accountant Kamau Mwangi, and former Chief Finance Officer Sarah Kemunto.
The others are former Prisons Senior Accountant Moses Sirengo, former Accountant II James Nyang’au and former warder Joseph Ochoki.
The company owners charged are Eric Kipkirui of Homex Logistics Enterprises, Hygienic Ventures, and Unique Supplies; Joseph Kariuki Mwangi of Joslil General Supplies; Maureen Ndungwa of East Africa Company; and Stephen Kisonzo of Mulwa Farm Ltd., STEMU Supplies, and C****o Suppliers.
Some of the companies in the scandal are charged with money laundering and the fraudulent acquisition of public property, contrary to Section 45(1)(a) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic C****s Act.
Wende pleaded not g****y to the charges before Principal Magistrate Celesa Asis Okore. He was granted bail on a bond of Ksh7 million or an alternative cash bail of Ksh4 million.
The case is scheduled for mention on September 3, 2024.