MOMBASA, Kenya, Jan 24 – Eight former and current officials of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) were on Wednesday morning charged with corruption before the Mombasa Magistrate Court.
Among those charged were Yobesh Oyaro, the former Head of Procurement and Supplies at KPA, along with KPA evaluation committee members David Angwenyi, Norah Mugambi, Athanase Wambari, and David Arika.
The allegations pertained to corruption involving a Sh62 million tender designated for disadvantaged groups.
Others named in the charges included Robert Bosuben, a Senior Clerical Officer at the Civil Engineering Department at KPA, and three individuals associated with Chemiso East Africa: Azenath Kwamboka Mageto, Rose Cherotich, and Idd Arube Nanyang.
The charges brought against them encompassed six counts of corruption, including fraudulent acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, money laundering, obtaining contracts through false pretenses, forgery, and uttering false documents.
According to the charge sheet, between April 2, 2014, and June 2, 2015, the accused officials tampered with tender number KPA/036/2014-15/CE—Biennial contract for Building works, which was earmarked for disadvantaged groups and amounted to Sh62,732,772.74.
The tender was ultimately awarded to Chemiso East Africa, a business linked to Bosuben.
During the court proceedings before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku, all eight individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Oyaro, specifically, is accused of failing to comply with procurement laws between April 2, 2014, and June 2, 2015, while serving as Head of Procurement and Supplies at KPA.
The charge alleges his failure to ensure the establishment of a contract before issuing purchase and service orders to Chemiso East Africa for the aforementioned tender designated for building works for people with disabilities.
Bosuben, Cherotich, and Mageto face joint charges related to engaging in an arrangement concerning the Sh62,732,772.74 received for the tender, utilizing Kenya Commercial Bank account numbers in Mombasa and Sotik to obscure the source of the funds while being aware that the monies could be proceeds of criminal activities.
Additionally, Bosuben and Nanyang are accused of fraudulently registering a business under the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) scheme, knowingly misrepresenting facts to influence the tender award.
