A cleaner from the State Department of Correctional Services, Eric Kipkirui Mutai, has been accused of amassing Ksh.257 million via proxy companies during the fiscal years 2016/2017 and 2017/2018.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed in a statement that Mutai was listed as the director of seven firms contracted to supply goods to various Nairobi prisons. These companies include Homex Logistics, Hygienic Ventures, Nerimas General Agencies, Trechris Services, Unique Supplies, Facton Logistics, and White Unicorn Logistics.

PHOTO | COURTESY court hammer

EACC investigations found that the payment vouchers from these firms were fraudulent, indicating they did not provide meals to inmates. Additionally, the delivery notes lacked the necessary name of the receiving officer.

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EACC stated, "There are no local purchase orders, inspection and acceptance committee certificates in the payment vouchers. None of the deliveries indicated on the delivery notes attached to the payment vouchers were recorded in the prisons' books. None of the payments were charged in the respective vote book of the prison where the deliveries were purported to have been made."

PHOTO | COURTESY court hammer

Mutai, a seven-year janitor at the prison department, is among 13 individuals accused of misappropriating Ksh.450 million. Five suspects, including Mutai, were arrested on Thursday for their alleged involvement in the scandal. The others are Sarah Kemunto (Chief Finance Officer), Moses Juma Sirengo (Principal Accountant), Jack Nyariango Ogao (Accountant), and Maureen Ndungwa (Director of one of the firms).

The EACC highlighted that Mutai led a lavish lifestyle after the incident, acquiring seven cars, a plot of land, and a house in Nairobi worth Ksh.17.5 million. However, a 2022 High Court order froze these assets pending the case's outcome.

The five arrested individuals are scheduled to be charged at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Friday, July 19. Meanwhile, the EACC has directed the remaining eight suspects to report to the nearest EACC office by Friday.