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Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati. Photo: FILE
Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, nine of his relatives, and several directors of construction companies have been charged with engaging in fraudulent procurement and acquisition of proceeds of crime amounting to more than Ksh.271 million.
According to the charge sheet, the accused faced 27 counts, including fraudulent procurement, conflict of interest, and money laundering.
Wangamati has been released on a Ksh.5 million bond, or an alternative of Ksh.1.5 million bail.
Court released the 6th and 7th accused on similar terms, with the 2nd, 3rd and 5th accused handed a Ksh.400,000 bail, and Ksh. 10 million bond for 4th accused.
The accused are alleged to have submitted falsified completion and liability certificates from various county governments and institutions to secure multi-million-shilling road and construction tenders between 2018 and 2021.
Among those charged are Valeria Construction Limited, Nabwala Construction Limited, Mundesi Contractors, and Skyman Freighters Limited, alongside their directors.
Court documents indicate that the firms presented forged documents purportedly from the Kenya Wildlife Service, the County Governments of Kwale, Garissa, Uasin Gishu, Tana River, and Turkana, as well as institutions such as the National Irrigation Board and Nakuru Water & Sanitation Company.
In one count, Nabwala Construction Limited and its directors β Michael Simiyu Wangamati and Barasa N. Wangamati β are accused of acquiring Sh271,271,432.50 through a Cooperative Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of crime.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Zippora Gichana and denied all charges.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) did not oppose their release on bail but asked the court to impose strict conditions, including surrendering passports, refraining from interfering with witnesses, and avoiding public commentary on the case.
Defence lawyer Peter Wanyama urged the court to grant reasonable bail, arguing that finance department officials who processed payments were not charged, suggesting no irregularities in disbursement. He also told the court that the former governor suffers from hypertension and asked that his health be considered in setting bail terms.
βThere was no loss of public funds. Most of the accused are family members of the first accused. We ask that they be granted cash bail of Ksh.50,000 each,β Wanyama submitted.
Another lawyer, Brian Khaemba, added that some of his clients were peasant farmers and a church clerk, urging the court to impose lenient bond terms.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
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- Wangamati has been released of a Ksh. 5 million bond, or an alternative Ksh. 1.5 bail.
Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati. Photo: FILE
Former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, nine of his relatives, and several directors of construction companies have been charged with engaging in fraudulent procurement and acquisition of proceeds of crime amounting to more than Ksh.271 million.
According to the charge sheet, the accused faced 27 counts, including fraudulent procurement, conflict of interest, and money laundering.
Wangamati has been released on a Ksh.5 million bond, or an alternative of Ksh.1.5 million bail.
Court released the 6th and 7th accused on similar terms, with the 2nd, 3rd and 5th accused handed a Ksh.400,000 bail, and Ksh. 10 million bond for 4th accused.
The accused are alleged to have submitted falsified completion and liability certificates from various county governments and institutions to secure multi-million-shilling road and construction tenders between 2018 and 2021.
Among those charged are Valeria Construction Limited, Nabwala Construction Limited, Mundesi Contractors, and Skyman Freighters Limited, alongside their directors.
Court documents indicate that the firms presented forged documents purportedly from the Kenya Wildlife Service, the County Governments of Kwale, Garissa, Uasin Gishu, Tana River, and Turkana, as well as institutions such as the National Irrigation Board and Nakuru Water & Sanitation Company.
In one count, Nabwala Construction Limited and its directors β Michael Simiyu Wangamati and Barasa N. Wangamati β are accused of acquiring Sh271,271,432.50 through a Cooperative Bank account, knowing the funds were proceeds of crime.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Zippora Gichana and denied all charges.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) did not oppose their release on bail but asked the court to impose strict conditions, including surrendering passports, refraining from interfering with witnesses, and avoiding public commentary on the case.
Defence lawyer Peter Wanyama urged the court to grant reasonable bail, arguing that finance department officials who processed payments were not charged, suggesting no irregularities in disbursement. He also told the court that the former governor suffers from hypertension and asked that his health be considered in setting bail terms.
βThere was no loss of public funds. Most of the accused are family members of the first accused. We ask that they be granted cash bail of Ksh.50,000 each,β Wanyama submitted.
Another lawyer, Brian Khaemba, added that some of his clients were peasant farmers and a church clerk, urging the court to impose lenient bond terms.
Β©Citizen Digital, Kenya
Continue reading...
