Seven former Kericho County officials have been jailed for a total of 17 years after they were found guilty of irregularly awarding a Sh5.6 million road construction tender.
The Anti-Corruption Court in Kericho on Tuesday jailed the officials and a director of a private firm, but gave them the option of paying a Sh17.8 million fine.
According to the anti-graft commission, Peter Koskey, Lillian Chepkoech, John Kimutai, Japheth Kipngeno, Joash Chirchir, Stanley Cheruiyot, Charles Mabwai, Aaron Njoroge and Jawlink Logistics Limited were involved in an irregular award of Sh5.6 million road construction tender.
Kericho Chief Magistrate S.M Mokua on Tuesday found the officials guilty of corruption, abuse of office and conflict of interest.
“The court hereby convicts the accused persons after they were found guilty of various counts of corruption charges and for violation of Procurement Laws,” said the magistrate.
The main accused person in the matter, former chief officer in charge of Public Works and Roads Peter Kipyegon, was found guilty of three counts of corruption and sentenced to 8 years in prison with an option of paying a fine of Sh1.3 million.
The court jailed Lilian Chepkoech for 10 years with an option to pay a Sh10.5million fine.
Sh3.8 million inducement
In the case, Ms Chepkoech was found guilty of corruptly receiving an inducement of Sh3.8 million.
John Kimutai and Japhet Kipngeno were jailed for 4years each with the option of Sh2.4 million fine each.
The court handed Joash Chirchir, Stanley Cheruyoit, Charles Mabwai and Aaron Njoroge a sentence of 2 years each with the option of Sh300,000 fine each.
The anti-graft agency in its submissions in court linked the eight to the corruption deal, conflict of interest and procurement irregularities in respect of a contract awarded for the construction of the Bae-Kapsimotwet Kibaraa road in Belgut Sub-County.
The anti-graft agency said it received a complaint in November 2016 on allegations of abuse of office, conflict of interest and procurement irregularities by some county government officers then working in the Department of Roads, Public Works and Transport.
The eight were arrested on June 10, 2020 and arraigned in Kericho where they faced nine counts.
EACC in its investigations unearthed that on diverse dates between March 4 and 11, 2016, Peter Kosgey awarded the tender to Jawlink through a direct procurement method without following the proper procurement guidelines. Chepkoech, then a roads inspector with the county, was also a director of Jawlink.
She also reportedly received Sh3,807,899 from the deal.
Company not registered
ChepKoech, Kimutai and Kipgenoh are said to have aided in awarding the tender despite having knowledge that the company was not registered to carry out the road contructionl services.
The court further heard that the former county officials submitted a falsified National Construction Authority registration certificate for the tender award.
Chirchir, Cheruiyot, Mambwai and Njoroge were found guilty of flouting procurement procedures in awarding the Sh5,606,512 tender to Jawlink. BY DAILY NATION