Investigation into Sh700m Wamatangi case halts as court denies unfreezing the accounts
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is currently investigating Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi over alleged corruption involving approximately Sh700 million. The investigation centres around claims that several companies, including King Group Limited, Lub Plus Oil & Energy Co. Ltd, Quick Fix Auto Garage Ltd, King Construction Co. Limited, and King Realfors Ltd, received irregular payments from three government agencies—KeNHA, KeRRA, and KURA—between 2017 and 2022 due to procurement irregularities.
The EACC has summoned Director-Generals from these government agencies to record statements related to this probe. Governor Wamatangi, however, has challenged the investigation, claiming that the EACC violated constitutional provisions by allegedly misrepresenting his involvement. He argues that he is neither a director nor a shareholder in the implicated companies and that his name was wrongly used to create an impression of loss of public funds due to his public office.
Despite Wamatangi's petition, courts have declined to halt or limit the EACC’s probe or unfreeze the accounts under investigation. In a recent ruling, Milimani Chief Magistrate Harrison Barasa stated that allowing King Group to join the case and unfreezing its account at Family Bank would usurp the powers of the High Court.
The EACC investigator, Catherine Ngari, stated that the lower court's orders allowed EACC to access and look into the account during the probe. She further claimed that bank account forms obtained from the companies under investigation reveal links to the governor. Ngari added that the commission has acted within its powers and within the law in applying and executing the court orders.
King Group Limited, the company in question, has argued that the unjustified interference with its account is affecting its contractual obligations and reputation. Director Joseph Mwaura claimed that EACC has linked his company to Wamatangi without evidence or documentation. Mwaura also stated that he has never been summoned or asked to provide any information.
In a surprising turn of events, High Court Anti-Corruption Court Judge Lucy Njuguna froze five bank accounts in relation to the companies under investigation. However, in a recent decision, Barasa dismissed the company's application to freeze its account.
The EACC claims there were procurement irregularities and irregular payments totaling Sh700 million between 2017 and 2022, leading to the loss of public funds. The commission is yet to present evidence linking Governor Wamatangi directly to these alleged irregularities. The investigation continues.
[1] The Star, "EACC probes Wamatangi over Sh700m graft," 2022. [2] The Standard, "Wamatangi challenges EACC probe over Sh700m," 2022. [3] Daily Nation, "EACC summons KeNHA, KeRRA, KURA bosses over Sh700m graft probe," 2022. [4] Citizen Digital, "Wamatangi challenges EACC probe over Sh700m graft," 2022. [5] Nation Africa, "Kiambu Governor Wamatangi challenges EACC probe over Sh700m graft," 2022.
- The investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi's alleged corruption involves numerous companies and claims of irregular payments totaling Sh700 million, linking the scandal to the fields of business, politics, and finance.
- As part of the ongoing investigation, several companies and government officials have been summoned, highlighting the intersection of business, politics, and general-news, along with the potential impact on the crime-and-justice sector due to potential misuse of public funds.
- The EACC investigator, Catherine Ngari, asserted that evidence obtained from bank account forms belonging to the companies under investigation pointed towards connections with Governor Wamatangi, thus underscoring the significance of the epaper in the dissemination of related news and information.
- During the court proceedings, King Group Limited's accounts were frozen and unfrozen at various instances, raising questions about the role of the criminal justice system and the executive in cases involving business, politics, and finance.
