The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has apprehended five individuals accused of orchestrating the misappropriation of funds from the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) designated for Laikipa East Sub-County.
Allegedly, these suspects collaborated to siphon national funds under the guise of a road project supposedly executed during the 2016/17 fiscal year.
“EACC has apprehended five suspects alleged to have misappropriated Kes. 20,391,000 from the Laikipia East NG-CDF in connection with a fictitious road project during the Financial Year 2016/2017,” stated the EACC in a release on X.
These individuals are slated to appear in court on Monday to face charges related to the fabrication of a road that had no tangible existence.
“In this deceptive scheme, the accused falsely claimed that the funds were disbursed for the construction of the ‘Thome-Tharua Road,’ which had no physical presence.
“The arrest of the suspects occurred on Friday, and they are currently held at Nyahururu Police Station awaiting court proceedings at the Nyahururu Anti-Corruption Court on Monday, February 19, 2024,” disclosed the anti-corruption agency.
As per EACC’s findings, the apprehended suspects include the former NG-CDF Committee chairman, secretary, treasurer, and two district accountants, identified as Newton Kabuthia, Ann Wangeci Mwangi, John Mutahi Muritu, Richard Maina Kariuki, and Monica Gikeri, respectively.
“The quintet will face charges alongside another individual, a former fund manager currently serving a custodial sentence for a separate corruption offense.
“During the commission’s investigation spanning from October 6, 2015, to March 2017, it was uncovered that the six individuals conspired to embezzle Kes. 20,391,000, deceitfully claiming that the funds were allocated for the construction of Thome-Tharua Road, a project they knew was fictitious,” added the commission.
