Corruption suspects fined Sh198 million or face 75 years in jail

Ten individuals and companies have been fined a total of Sh198 million or sentenced to more than 75 years in prison after being found guilty of fraudulently receiving Sh51.6 million from Kilifi County in a sham supply scheme involving “air” deliveries.

In a ruling delivered by Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui, the court found that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that public funds were siphoned through payments for goods that were never supplied and services that were never rendered.

Those convicted include company directors Lucy Wanjugu Kibogo, Mary Munyiva Kamau, Samuel Buku Macharia, Stephen Mutua Nguzi and Sarah Wangui Kamau, alongside their respective firms.

The fraud involved the illegal transfer of Sh51,569,775 from Kilifi County accounts between September and October 2016 through a scheme that exploited the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS).

Wanjugu received the heaviest penalty, being fined Sh38.3 million or facing 15 years and six months in prison. Her firms, Jahazi Investments Company Limited and Zohali Services Limited, were fined Sh15.2 million and Sh24.5 million respectively.

Munyiva was fined Sh26 million or faces 13 years in jail, while her company, Makegra Supplies Limited, was fined Sh25.7 million.

Mutua was fined Sh16.3 million or seven years in prison, while Kilingi Investment Company Limited was fined Sh15.9 million.

Buku was fined Sh18.6 million or faces seven years imprisonment, with his firm Leadership Edge Associates fined Sh18.2 million. Wangui was fined Sh17.5 million or risks serving five years and eight months in prison.

The magistrate ordered that all sentences run consecutively, meaning custodial terms will increase greatly if the fines are not paid.
Usui noted that the court had considered the impact of the theft on Kilifi residents, saying public development had been severely undermined.

She said the offences were executed through manipulation of procurement systems using stolen IFMIS credentials and forged documents, including fake local purchase orders, contracts and tender approvals.

Investigations revealed that funds were paid without supporting records such as delivery notes, inspection reports or evaluation documents. County officials testified that no procurement process had been followed.