The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has secured orders from the High Court compelling former Tourism PS Rebecca Nabutola and others to pay the Government of Kenya Kshs. 8,925,440/- being proceeds of crime.
Sometimes in 2007, EACC received a report alleging embezzlement of public funds by Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) officials through irregular procurement of services to organize a Permanent Secretaries’ trip to Maasai Mara’s ‘Tourism Award’ breakfast meeting and a breakfast meeting of the Minister for Tourism with media executives, at a total cost of Kshs.8,925,440/-.
Investigations established that the public funds in the sum of Kshs. 8,925,440/- were paid by Catering and Tourism Development Levy Trustees (CTDLT) on behalf of KTB to Maniago Safaris despite event expenses having already been met by Kenya Association of Tourism Operators (KATO).
Investigations further revealed that the tender award to Maniago Safaris as Agents to organize the Permanent Secretaries’ trip was done exclusively by Rebecca Nabutola, then PS for Tourism, Dr. Ong’ong’a Achieng, CEO of Catering and Tourism Development Levy Trustees, and Duncan Muriuki, Director of Maniago Safaris, without involvement of KTB, its Tender Committees or the Ministry of Tourism. Relevant procurement laws and procedures were not followed.
The three persons used Maniago Safaris as a vehicle to defraud KTB. Consequently, KTB suffered loss in the sum of Kshs. 8,925,440/-.
EACC, the successor of KACC, filed ACEC Suit No. 30 of 2016: KACC vs. Rebecca Nabutola & Others seeking to recover the lost public funds amounting to Kshs. 8,925,440/- that
Upon hearing the case, Justice Esther Maina of the High Court’s Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division entered judgement in favour of EACC ordering the Defendants to jointly and severally pay the Government of Kenya Kshs. 8,925,440/= together with costs and interest at Court rates
MAIN PHOTO / COURTESY NATION
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