Daniel Munywoki Wambua, a junior accountant attached to Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), now claims Sh21 million frozen in his bank accounts was intended for his lover’s dowry.
In court filings on Thursday, Wambua, through his lawyer Danstan Omari, petitioned the court to have the funds unfrozen so that he can pay the dowry as required by local traditions.
He said that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) targeted the wrong account, adding that the account was set up specifically for dowry arrangement and the money in question was contributions from friends and family.
“The amount in the Daniel Wambua Dowry Payment Account was specifically for the purpose of collecting funds from friends and well-wishers for the purposes of dowry payment for my intended marriage to my wife of choice,” read the court papers in part.
Wambua told the court that he is very influential in his community, which is why he received that much money as a contribution towards his dowry payment.
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He also attached the Whatsapp group with the contribution lists, which show how much each person contributed to the ceremony.
He further refuted EACC’s claims that he receives a monthly salary of 55,000 shillings and presented his most recent payslip, which claims that he receives 170,000 shillings.
The High Court on Thursday, August 10, directed the anti-corruption agency to freeze over Sh21 million held in three bank accounts linked to Wambua after questioning the source of the money reportedly amassed in a period of four months.
EACC accused Wambua of engaging in embezzlement of public funds, conflict of interest, bribery, and abuse of office.
“Preliminary investigation has established that he opened the account on March 15, 2023, and within a period of four months received Sh21,189,125, which we suspect are proceeds of corruption and not from his legitimate income,” EACC stated.
Wambua, however, maintained that the money was obtained legally from his monthly salary and overwhelming support from friends and family.
