Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Benjamin Obuya and four others appeared at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on Monday.

They were charged with fraudulently acquiring Ksh.302 million. The accused allegedly obtained the funds under the guise of payments for undelivered goods.

The accused include Joseph Kamau (Principal Accountant), James Nyang’au Gekobe (Accountant II), Joseph Ochoki Omaiyo (Warder), and businessman Steven Kisonzo Mulwa. They are charged with conspiring to commit economic crimes.

PHOTO | COURTESY Prison officials

Court documents indicate the fraudulent activities took place between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018, resulting in the acquisition of Ksh.301,908,000 for goods never received by the State Department for Correctional Services.

Did you read this?

  1. Former Presidential Candidate Abduba Dida Jailed For 7 Years In US
  2. A Man Wrongly Jailed For 13 Years In Kirinyaga Released
  3. State Allocates Kes3.5B For Police, Prisons Salary Increment

In addition to conspiracy charges, the group faces accusations of abuse of office, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and money laundering.

Before Principal Magistrate Celesa Asis Okore, all accused parties pleaded not guilty and were each released on a bond of Ksh.7 million with one surety of the same amount or an alternative cash bail of Ksh.4 million. They were also ordered to surrender their passports.

Prosecution counsel Wesley Nyamache requested new summons for Humphrey Wende Abok and Joseph Kariuki, who failed to appear in court for the second time. The court agreed and issued a fresh summons for the two individuals.

The case is set for mention on August 2, 2024.