Former Nyandarua Governor Daniel Waithaka Mwangi and Grace Wanjiru Gitonga, the county’s former Executive Committee Member for Water and Natural Resources, have been convicted in a corruption case involving Sh50 million.
Mwangi was found guilty of abuse of office and failing to adhere to procurement laws, while Gitonga was convicted for initiating a project without proper planning and violating procurement procedures.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) revealed that their investigations uncovered irregularities in a tender that was unlawfully awarded to the Israeli firm M/S TAHAL International Limited.
The company was hired for consultancy services to develop a County Water Master Plan and design the Ol Kalou Town Sewerage System.
In an unusual development, the same company was registered in Kenya in 2016 and received Ksh50,470,513, which was transferred to a bank account in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Following the payment, the so-called ‘consultant’ disappeared and has not been located. Despite the payment, no services were ever provided, the EACC confirmed.
The case will be heard again on March 20 for the confirmation of the accused’s criminal records ahead of sentencing.
