Former PS, KTB boss jailed over corruption

Written By:Margaret Kalekye/Dzuya Walter,    Posted: Mon, Sep 10, 2012

They faced 11 counts of abuse of office including defrauding the ministry of Sh9 million. Former Tourism PS Rebecca Nabutola and former Kenya Tourist Board Managing Director Achieng Ong'ong'a were sent to jail in what must be the harshest sentence meted out to public servants indicted of corruption in recent years. Chief Magistrate Lucy Nyambura on Monday handed Nabutola four years in jail while Ong'ong'a was given three years jail after both were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the government of  kshs. 8.9 million shillings. Businessman Duncan Muriuki was also sentenced to three years in prison. Nabutola and Ong'ong'a were fined an additional Sh. 2 million and 1.5 million respectively. Tour Operator Duncan Muriuki will also pay 17.8 million shillings in fines or serve three years in default. Nabutola was also accused of abusing her office and violating procurement law. Ong'ong'a faced five counts of abuse of office by illegally sourcing for services, making payments for un-rendered services as well as unlawfully authorizing for their payments. Muriuki and his company faced charges of acquiring conflicting private interests in the contract by receiving money in the guise of tourism promotion. In her closing submissions, Nabutola had defended a trip to the Masaai Mara game reserve for permanent secretaries arguing that the three-day trip was funded by various stakeholders in the tourism sector. Anti corruption court magistrate Lucy Nyambura also directed Muriuki to refund 1.3 million shillings to the government failure to which he will serve a further one year in prison. In her findings, magistrate Nyambura said the prosecution had proved the case against the trio beyond any reasonable doubt and therefore the accused must be punished accordingly. The trio were charged in May 2009 following recommendations by the then Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, now known as the Ethics and anti corruption commission. The three however have 14 days to appeal against the judgment failure to which they will have to spend at least three years in jail after the judge failed to include the option of cash bails in the sentences. The  three were escorted to the court cells, the glare of the media proving far too demanding.