Thome-Tharua Laikipia East Ksh.20 Million ‘Ghost Project’

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been investigating into allegations of embezzlement of Ksh. 19.2 Million from the Laikipia East National Government Constituency Development Fund spent on a ‘Ghost Project’, the supposed construction of the Thome-Tharua road.

Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission established that the Laikipia East CDF initiated, re-allocated and transferred Ksh. 20,391,000/- from the main Laikipia East NG-CDF account to the Thome-Tharua Management Committee Account. The money was supposedly for the construction of the Thome-Tharua Road which had not been approved by the NG-CDF Board, a mandatory requirement before any project is initiated.

Money Transferred to Individuals and Business Enterprises

Further investigations revealed that there was no procurement at all for the alleged construction and that the money meant for the project was instead transferred into individuals’ and business enterprises accounts totaling Kah. 20,384,900/-.

It also transpired that the road had in fact been approved by KeRRA and the County Government of Laikipia and was never constructed by the Laikipia East-CDF.

Ksh. 15 Million Thingithu Phase II Road Embezzlement

The EACC has also conducted an investigation into allegations the embezzlement Constituency Development Funds amounting to Ksh, 14,988,000/- in the Laikipia East Constituency which was meant for the construction of Thingithu Phase II Road.

No Procurement, No Approval, No Money, No Road

Investigations established that the Laikipia East CDF initiated the construction of the Thingithu Phase II Road Project without approval of the NG-CDF Board, a mandatory requirement before any project is initiated. They then transferred money from the main CDF account to Thingithu II Road Project Committee Account.

Further investigations revealed that no procurement was conducted at all for the project.

The money for the construction of Thingithu Phase II Road was however transferred into individuals’ accounts yet no road construction took place.

Kahuruko-Kijabbe Road EACC’s Investigation Into Missing Ksh. 22 Million

A third investigation by the EACC into allegations of the embezzlement of Constituency Development Funds amounting to Ksh. 24,800,000/- at the Laikipia East Constituency which was meant for the construction of the Kahuruko-Kijabbe Road.

The EACC’s investigations established that the Laikipia East CDF initiated the construction of the Kahuruko-Kijabbee Road project without the approval of the NG-CDF Board, a mandatory requirement and later transferred funds amounting to Ksh. 22,050,000/- from the main CDF account to the Kahuruko-Kajabbe Road Project Management Account.

The EACC’s investigations revealed that no procurement was conducted. The money supposedly for the construction of the Kahuruko-Kijabbe Road was later transferred into individuals’ and business enterprises accounts but there was no road construction.

Multiple Charges Recommended

The EACC has recommended to the DPP that charges be brought against Project Committee officials, NG-CDF Committee Members and former District Accountants with multiple counts of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption; fraudulent acquisition of public property; fraudulently making payments from public revenue for a service not rendered; willful failure to comply with the law relating to the management of funds and financial misconduct.

The EACC has complied and forwarded a file for each of the investigations into embezzlement in the Laikipia East Constituency.

All three reports await the DPP’s response.

Source: The Kenya Gazette, 3rd December, 2021