A senior government official working as the Deputy Director of Programmes, Public Policy and President’s Priority Initiatives has been charged.
In a statement released by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Thursday, April 18, Pius Chirchir has been charged with Abuse of office and Attempting to commit a felony at the Makadara Law Courts.
Following an extensive investigation by the DCI, the officer was implicated in a case where he demanded a two per cent stake from Kentegra Pyrethrum Company Limited to assist them bypass hurdles brought about by instilled laws.
“The Pyrethrum Act of 2013 requires farmers to use the electronic Tax Invoice Management System (eTIMS),” the statement notes in part.
According to the investigation findings, Chirchir also promised the company to clear its name in a case concerning the illegal sale of two tons of Kentegra dried pyrethrum flowers.
The suspect was arraigned at the Makadara Law Courts on April 16, 2024, where he was charged with two offences.
The officers have released him on a Ksh200,000 bond, with an option of Ksh100,000 bail.
“The matter will be mentioned on June 13, 2024, ahead of its hearing set for September 17, 2024, before Court No. 7 of Makadara Law Courts,” the statement noted.
Following a similar arrest during a crackdown on state officers, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission(EACC) arrested seven senior county government officials from Isiolo over links to fraudulent procurement in January.
“This relates to a tender for the supply and delivery of a fire engine corruptly awarded in the Financial Year (FY) 2018/2019,” EACC noted.
On January 24, Mombasa-based EACC officials arrested nine people, among them six from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) for embezzling public funds through a tender awarded to a company they owned.
“They will be charged with conflict of interest, fraudulent acquisition of public property, and forgery of the documents used in the scam,” EACC stated.
Source: kENYANS.CO.KE