EACC arraigns NITA Director General in procurement related fraud
03:06:2024: Stephen Ogenga, the Director General of National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), together with two directors of Xponics Ltd have today pleaded not guilty to various procurement fraud related charges before Hon. Zipporah Gichana of the Anti-Corruption Court in Milimani.
Mr. Ogenga, James Waweru, and Shiela Wambui Nyakinyua were arrested on Saturday after the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s recommendation to charge. This was after investigations by the Commission linked the three, together with the former Director General of Nita, Paul Kipsang Kosgei to the loss of Kes28.4 million in a procurement fraud at the industrial training authority.
Listed as the second accused, Mr. Ogenga was charged with abuse of office. The Court heard that between 31st January 2019 and 30th June 2021, Mr. Ogenga used his office as Director General of NITA to improperly confer a benefit of Kes4.8 million to Xponics Ltd by authorizing payments in respect to Tender No. NITA/12/2017-2018 for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, servicing, maintenance and repair of sewing and training machines.
James Waweru and Sheila Wambui Nyakinyua were charged with fraudulent acquisition of public property. Between 15th April 2009 and 30th June 2021, the Court was told, the two directors of Xponics Ltd fraudulently acquired Kes10.2 million by presenting a falsified bid to ensure an unfair advantage in respect to the afore-mentioned tender.
They denied the charges and the Court released them on a cash bail of Kes1 million or a bond of Kes3 million with a surety of the same amount. They were ordered to deposit their travel documents with Court and were also restrained from interfering with prosecution witnesses. Their case will be mentioned on 19th June, 2024.
Paul Kipsang Kosgei, former Director General of NITA and also the first accused in the case was not in court to take plea. His counsel told Court that even though his client had received summons to surrender today at EACC’s Integrity Centre, it was long after he had confirmed a crucial doctor appointment. Court scheduled his plea taking on 5th June, 2024.
