The High Court has frozen Ksh48.5 million and six parcels of land belonging to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) CEO Evanson Kamuri, who is embroiled in a Ksh634.5 million corruption scandal.
The freezing order, issued on Friday, June 21, will remain in effect for six months as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) continues its investigation into the allegations against Kamuri.
Last month, the EACC secured court orders to freeze Ksh28 million held in two Housing Finance (HF) accounts.
These funds are suspected to have been corruptly acquired from the hospital by Kamuri. In its affidavit filed at the Milimani Law Courts, the EACC sought to examine and obtain various documents related to these accounts, including opening records, statements, cheques, deposit slips, and other pertinent information dating back to January 1, 2019.
The EACC has alleged that Kamuri is involved in the abuse of office, unexplained wealth, conflict of interest, procurement irregularities, and the irregular award of tenders to companies linked to him.
“The preliminary investigations have established that the said public officer has accumulated assets which are not commensurate to his known source of income to a tune of Ksh800 million,” the EACC stated in its application.
The anti-graft watchdog also requested electronic evidence from Housing Finance, adhering to legal procedures and court orders.
“The petitioner (EACC) is asking the esteemed court to issue an order compelling the CEO of Housing Finance to appoint an authorised representative who will be responsible for providing a certificate confirming the production of electronic evidence, as required by Section 106B(4) of the Evidence Act,” the court document read in part.
The court had previously ruled that preliminary investigations by the EACC found Kamuri guilty of abuse of office, conflict of interest, and procurement irregularities.
These offences are connected to the awarding of a tender for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of a medical oxygen generating plant at KNH.
Additionally, Kamuri is linked to another tender for the supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, and support of the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) System and its supporting hardware and software components.
“Investigations are still ongoing, and it is necessary that the Commission investigates the above-stated bank accounts through which suspected proceeds of the transactions may have been channeled through,” the court document added.
The EACC had sought to freeze Ksh10 million held in one account and Ksh18 million held in another account, both under Housing Finance, for 21 days while further investigations are conducted.
The court’s decision to freeze these funds aims to prevent any dissipation of the monies, which could hinder the investigation and negatively impact the public.
“For purposes of the ongoing investigations, it is necessary for the said bank to confirm the account balances and to make accessible certified copies of account opening documents, statements, cheques, deposit slips, ATM and cash withdrawals, standing orders, direct debits, debit and credit cards documents, cash deposit slips, bankers’ books, mandate cards and authorisations, payment vouchers or any other relevant information for the period indicated above for the above-identified account number,” the court ruled.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE