Financial crime investigation officers have arrested six officials of the Malindi National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) in connection with the theft of Sh20 million during the construction of the Malindi Sub County education office.
The officers were also in hot pursuit of Malindi Member of Parliament Aisha Jumwa, who was said to be on the run but the officers were confident they would nab her.
Those arrested by the detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi included the Malindi NG-CDF Manager Wachu OMar Abdalla, and officials Sophia Said, Bernard Kai, Margaret Faith Kalume, Robert Katana and Engineer Kennedy Otieno Onyango.
Addressing journalists at a Malindi restaurant on Thursday Evening, the head of the Financial Crime Investigation Unit Mr. Mike Muia said the seven (inclusive of the MP) would be arraigned at the anti-corruption court in Mombasa County today.
He said the DCI had been investigating the alleged flawed procurement for the construction of the education office that cost the NG-CDF Sh20 million.
He said that most of the funds that were allegedly stolen were wired back into the legislator’s personal account and those of close relatives.
He said four of the five bidders were close relatives of the MP including her son and daughter, adding that the tender evaluation committee did not do due diligence in awarding the tenders.
Director Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji ordered the arrest in a statement to newsrooms Thursday. The charges they face include willful failure to comply with procurement laws, conflict of interest, conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, acquisition of proceeds of crime, forgery and money laundering.
By Emmanuel Masha
