Six out of 14 Suspects in Prisons’ supply scandal plead not guilty to charges

19:07:2017: Six of the 14 suspects whose companies were paid Kes450,138,000 by the State Department of Correctional Services for goods and services they did not render have today pleaded not guilty to various charges relating to abuse of office and fraudulent acquisition of public property.

Mageto Omari Mirieri, Assistant Director Supply Chain Management; Sarah Kemunto Kerandi, Chief Finance officer; Moses Juma Sirengo, a Senior Accountant; Jack Nyariango Ogao, Accountant; and Eric Kipkirui Mutai, a cleaning Supervisor II, all of the State Department of Correctional Services, and Maurine Ndungwa Mwikya, a sole proprietor of Reenn East Africa Company pleaded not guilty before Principal Magistrate Hon. Celesa A. Okore at Milimani Anti-Corruption Court.

Kerandi, Sirengo, Ogao, Mutai, and Mwikya were arrested yesterday by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officers, while Mr. Mageto Mirieri presented himself early today at the Commission’s Integrity Centre for processing and arraignment.

The State Department of Correctional Services senior officers including Mirieri, Kerandi, Sirengo and Ogao were charged with various counts of abuse of office. The Court heard that between August 29, 2016, and June 15, 2017, they used their offices to improperly confer Kes62,560,000 to Homex Logistics Enterprises as payment for goods not supplied to the State Department of Correctional Services.

The Court also heard they improperly conferred Kes51,003,000 to Hygienic Ventures between August 29, 2016, and June 15, 2017; Kes73,342,500 to Unique Supplies between August 29, 2016, and June15, 2017; Kes12 million to Joslil General Supplies between September 28, 2017, and October 23, 2017; and Kes4,780,000 to Reenn East Africa between January 29, 2018 and February 12, 2018 for undelivered good

They were also accused of paying Kes25,650,000 to Castro Suppliers between April 20, 2017, and November 20, 2017; Kes50,875,000 to Stemu Supplies between April 18, 2017, and October 24, 2017; and Kes21,697,000 to Mulwa Farm Ltd between October 6, 2017 and March 21, 2018 for undelivered goods to the State Department of Correctional Services.

Eric Kipkirui Mutai, the cleaner at the State Department of Correctional Services with seven companies which were paid Kes257,220,500 for undelivered goods was also charged with several counts of fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to section 45(1) (a) as read with section 48 of ACECA.

Maurine Mwikya, the sole proprietor of Reenn East Africa Company, also faced charges of fraudulent acquisition of public property. The Court heard that she acquired Kes4,780,000 from the State Department of Correctional Services for undelivered goods on February 13, 2018.

All six persons accused of the crimes denied the charges. They were slapped with a Kes7 million bond each with a surety of a similar amount or Kes4 million cash bail each. The Court also ordered them to surrender their international travel. Their case will be mentioned on August 2, 2024 for further directions.

The Court also issued summons of attendance to the remaining suspects to appear for plea taking on Monday, July 22, 2024.