The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recovered KSh 13 million from a former Nairobi City Council official linked to a controversial cemetery land deal. The money was returned following a court order issued by the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Court.
In the judgment delivered on March 24, Justice Benjamin Musyoki found that the former official, who chaired the Technical Evaluation Committee at the time, was deeply involved in how the deal was handled. The court heard that she helped push through a flawed procurement process and was later paid part of the money as a reward.
According to EACC, the court ruled that the official “orchestrated and guided the flawed procurement process” and that the money she received was a reward for her role. The judge said the funds belonged to the public and had to be returned.
Investigations showed that Nairobi County lost huge amounts of money in the deal, with the land in question valued at KSh 283 million. However, the land was not suitable for a cemetery, and the price had been inflated. Out of the total amount, KSh 110 million was paid to the registered owner, while the rest was shared among individuals involved in the scheme.
So far, EACC says it has recovered about KSh 80 million through different court cases targeting those who benefited. The commission also noted that some of the people involved in the deal were charged and later convicted of various offenses like procurement fraud and money laundering.
The former official was also convicted in 2018 and sentenced to three years in prison and also fined KSh 52 million.
The latest recoveries come just days after EACC arrested an officer from Nakuru Water and Sewerage Company in connection with a corruption case. The officer was accused of asking for KSh 15,000 from a resident to help replace a seized water meter.
During the arrest, detectives recovered KSh 15,000 believed to have been taken as a bribe, as well as an additional KSh 100,000 hidden in the suspect’s socks and KSh 18,000 in his coat pocket. The money is suspected to be proceeds of corruption.