Education official fraudulently creates ghost school, siphons funds

 

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has won a High Court case seeking recovery of over Ksh 11 million from one Joshua Momanyi Ocharo.

According to EACC, Ocharo who while working at the Ministry of Education established a ‘ghost’ school called ‘Mundeku Secondary School,’ purportedly located in Khwisero Sub-County, Kakamega County and consistently allocated it Government funds meant for the Free Day Secondary Education Programme.

Momanyi, whose duties in the Ministry entailed preparation of Funds Distribution Schedules, added the name of the non-existent school into the payment records, and inserted his personal bank account number, against the ghost school which he represented as a legitimate beneficiary.

In his ruling, Justice Prof Nixon Sifuna found that Momanyi conceived and executed a fraudulent scheme through which he received the funds at the expense of the children of Kenya, who are the rightful beneficiaries of funds.

EACC says the theft took place on diverse dates between 22nd August 2017 and 18th June 2018.

In addition, it was also revealed that Momanyi used part of the money to buy a Toyota Vanguard vehicle and two prime parcels of land which the High Court has since declared proceeds of crime that should be forfeited to the Government.

A file recommending his prosecution has further been forwarded to the ODPP.  BY KBC NEWS