Fake resort cited in free learning cash scandal

By MAUREEN NGESA mngesa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Tuesday, August 10 2010 at 21:00
In Summary

-Government acted after the United Kingdom threatened to cut funding for school programme

The hotel that allegedly accommodated participants in an education workshop that saw millions of shillings embezzled does not exist.

A witness from the Ministry of Tourism, Mr Tom Odhiambo Ong’ombe, told the anti-corruption court on Tuesday there is no hotel named Greek Beach Resort in Mombasa.

Mr Ong’ombe was testifying in a case in which a former deputy director of education, Mr Enos Meshack Magwa, is accused of defrauding the Ministry of Education.

“A search was done and no hotel exists by that name,” said Mr Ong’ombe.

Mr Magwa is accused of producing fake receipts, claiming he had paid the hotel Sh300,000 for accommodation.

The workshop on management of instructional materials for schools was held between September and October 2008 at the Mombasa Polytechnic.

Approximately 250 participants were invited to the 15-day seminar, with a provision for accommodation for some. It was facilitated by the consultants.

One of the facilitators, Mr Absalom Odhiambo, testified that they were each paid Sh2,000 per day for the 15 days, amounting to Sh90,000.

However, documents produced in court were different. Two payment schedules claimed that Mr Odhiambo was paid Sh120,000.

The witness disputed this, saying the signatures on the two payment schedules were forged. The schedules also had three other names not known to Mr Odhiambo.

“I knew the other two facilitators we worked with, but their names are not here,” he said.

Mr Magwa also faces a charge of false accounting of Sh1.9 million intended for the workshop.

This is one of the six cases pending in court over the misappropriation of Sh14 million for management seminars and workshops for secondary school heads.

Other former senior officials charged with similar offences are Mrs Concilia Ondiek, Ms Christine Chacha, Mr Thomas Odhiambo, Mr Patrick Aghan and Mr Francis Kimosop.

Mr Kimosop is accused of misappropriating Sh7.6 million for transport of participants for an HIV/Aids programme conducted in March last year.

The suspects were arrested and charged after the British Government threatened to suspend funding for free primary education (FPE) over the loss of Sh103 million for the programme.

They were also suspended from duty, with Mrs Ondiek being replaced as director of secondary education.

The prosecution has lined up 144 witnesses. All the offences were allegedly committed between November 2008 and June last year.

The hearing continues.