NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 5 – Former National Social Security Fund (NSSF) boss Rachael Lumbasyo on Tuesday presented herself at the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) headquarters in Nairobi to record a statement over corruption allegations.
Ms Lumbasyo appeared at the anti graft body to respond to questions over payment of Sh8 million made to a city law firm when she was at the helm of NSSF.
KACC Public Relations and Protocol Officer Nicholas Simani told Capital News that Ms Lumbasyo was later allowed to leave the commission after recording the statement.
“She will be arraigned in court tomorrow (Wednesday),” Mr Simani said.
Last week, Kakamega High Court Judge Said Chitembwe who was the NSSF Secretary at the time the payment was allegedly made, appeared before the Anti Corruption Court and denied abuse of office charges. He was later released on a cash bail of Sh500,000.
The two officers were removed from the Fund’s helm last year by Labour Minister John Munyes after accusations that NSSF was at the risk of losing billions of shillings owing to poor investment decisions and corrupt activities.
Mr Simani said the arrests were a culmination of the investigations conducted by KACC at the Fund.
The judge was flown from Mombasa to Nairobi last week to answer to the offences which he allegedly committed when he was the Company Secretary of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).
One of his lawyers Steven Mwenesi however maintained that his client was innocent. Mr Mwenesi questioned why background checks made before his appointment as a judge did not reveal any malpractices.
“Justice Chitembwe was vetted and appointed a judge of the High Court of Kenya. The Judicial Service Commission must have done their job. Is this a complaint from the same Commission?” he posed.
The case is due for mention on January 6.
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