Former State Department for Correctional Services accountant, Humphrey Wende Abok, was on Tuesday charged with the fraudulent acquisition of public property totaling Ksh. 302 million.
The charges, filed at the Nairobi Anti-Corruption Court, accuse Wende and others of defrauding the State Department by receiving payments for goods that were never supplied.
According to the prosecution, between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018, Wende and his co-defendants illegally obtained Ksh. 301,908,000 intended for undelivered goods.
In addition to the fraud charges, Wende faces eight counts of abuse of office under Section 46, as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, No. 3 of 2003.
Prosecutor Faith Mwila outlined how Wende improperly allocated funds, including Ksh. 42,920,000 to Homex Logistic Enterprises, Ksh. 41,575,000 to Hygienic Ventures, Ksh. 45,152,500 to Unique Supplies, Ksh. 18,112,500 to Mulwa Farm Limited, Ksh. 12,000,000 to Joslil Supplies, Ksh. 4,780,000 to Reenn East Africa Company, Ksh. 25,650,000 to Castro Suppliers, and Ksh. 50,875,000 to Stemu Supplies—none of which provided the goods to the department.
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Wende pleaded not guilty to the charges before Principal Magistrate Celesa Asis Okore. He was granted bail with a bond set at Ksh. 7 million or an alternative cash bail of Ksh. 4 million.
Additionally, the court ordered Wende to surrender his passport and other travel documents.
The case is set for mention on September 3, 2024.
