Samburu Governor Bail: BY RMS: Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal has been granted a cash bail of Ksh.100 million or Ksh.150 million bond after denying charges of corruption and abuse of office.
He was arraigned before Anti-Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti and charged with four counts of corruption and abuse of office.
Governor Lenolkulal is accused of irregularly obtaining Ksh.84.7 million by supplying fuel to the Samburu County Government through his fuel company, Oryx Service Station between March 27, 2013 and March 25, 2019.
“Between March 27, 2013 and March 25, 2019, at Samburu County, being the Governor of Samburu County Government, you used your office to improperly confer upon yourself a benefit of Ksh.84,695,996.55 through Oryx Service Station, a business entity owned by yourself, through the supply of fuel to Samburu County Government,” read the charge sheet.
The court granted his request to be released on bail but on tough conditions, which have left him staring at tough times considering his assets — including bank accounts — have since been frozen.
It remains to be seen whether he will afford to pay the bail/bond to secure his release.
In addition to the Ksh.100 million cash bail or bond of Ksh.150 million, Magistrate Ogoti barred Governor Lenolkulal from accessing the Samburu county government offices until the case is heard and determined.
He was charged with conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, abuse of office, conflict of interest and unlawful acquisition of public property contrary to the law, charges to which he pleaded not guilty.
Governor Lenolkulal was arrested on Tuesday morning and taken to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) headquarters for questioning before he was arraigned.
He is facing charges alongside his deputy Julius Leseeto and 11 other former and current county officials over the Ksh.84 million fuel supply scandal. The Governor has been under intensified investigation since his his earlier arrest on February 20, that followed a raid on his homes.
EACC has since obtained orders allowing them access to five KCB accounts belonging to the governor as they probe transactions processed through the accounts since 2013.
The anti-corruption commission also got court orders freezing properties belonging to the governor among them four pieces of land in Karen, Nairobi.
They are part of six parcels that are said to have been acquired by the governor at a price of Ksh.15 million each, totaling to Ksh.90 million. Sources at EACC indicate that the properties were paid for in cash at a go.
The governor was also blocked from transacting on the four properties to allow EACC complete investigations before instituting recovery proceedings should it be found that in deed they were acquired with proceeds of corruption. The freezing orders will last for six months.