The Directorate of Criminal Investigations detectives are holding a Samburu County employee in suspected fraud and money laundering scam after he was intercepted in possession of Sh1million cash on his way to Nairobi.
LLejisat Samuel Supuko, a driver attached to Samburu County Social Services department had stashed the money in a bag when he was seized at a road block at Learata along the Moyale Isiolo road.
A multi-agency security team flagged down the vehicle following intelligence reports of money laundering scheme.
Supuko is being held at Samburu Police Station and the cash as exhibit. He was driving a Toyota Fortuner registration 25Cg 032A.
“He could not account on the source of the money or its intended use. The total amount recovered is shilling one million and ninety thousands.” An investigation file reads in part.
In April this year, Samburu governor Moses Lenolkulal and his associates were charged over Sh84million suspected fraud as part of the Sh2billion scam the anti-graft agency is handling against governor’s administration.
He is out on cash bail of Sh1omillion after High Court reduced the initial bail terms of Sh100million.
Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission unearthed irregular payment of Sh84million to Oryx Service Station owned by the governor.
A second phase of ongoing probe, Eacc details of an elaborate scheme of grand theft from public coffers at Samburu County reveals primary and secondary beneficiaries controlled in a lean circle limited to governor’s handlers, political appointees and contractors forms part of the dossier being analysed by the anti-graft czar.
Private companies were paid sh970, 062,482 for various contracts out of which they allegedly paid sh86, 290,105 in bribes to senior county staff.
Intelligence report shows Samburu Imani Enterprises and Saimen Enterprises Ltd both owned by Julius Lekaija and Luciana Leparporit were paid Sh349,937,530.
Health County Committee Executive member Dorcas Ntiam and her Finance counterpart Jonathan Leisen reportedly pocketed Sh3.1million and Sh1million as bribes respectively.
Speaker Lempere also received Sh300, 000 as kickbacks from the same.
Nyota Star Limited and Baragoi Star Filling Station by Livingstone Nyota and Josephat Lesimari was paid Sh97.5million irregularly.
Lepesi General Contractors owned by Dominic Lesiamito and Paul Lejaras Lemuna was paid Sh90.8million.
Out of these, Finance Cec Leisen pocketed Sh242, 000, Agriculture CeC Vincent Learaman Sh576, 000, Member of County Assembly Linda Naserian Sh450,000 and Speaker Sh500,000 respectively received the amounts quoted as bribes.
On the other hand, questions have been raised over Sh41.3million paid to Samburu Guest House whose listed directors are Josephat Mwangi Njoroge and Sammy Lasito Leleruk.
Sipat Limited received Sh60.2million out of which ICT county officer Moses Leluata allegedly pocketed Sh21.7million while Lempere and his personal assistant Risto Lesiyaloi pocketed Sh6.4million and Sh4.1million kickback respectively.
Further, out of the Sh34million controversially paid to Meagari Construction, Sh17million was paid to peter Letura as bribe.
Other companies paid include; Loisiap Contractors and Civil Engineering Ltd (sh62million), K. M. Robert Gen Merchants Samburu Ltd (S45million), Merigi Building and Construction (Sh20million), Salamat Ltd (Sh133million), Red Rock Resort (Sh4million) Mejooli Enterprises Ltd (Sh22million) and Tipito Contractors Limited (Sh7.8million) respectively.
Eleven of the firms trading with the county government are owned by staff members and received a total of Sh673million.
Bonobo General Suppliers belonging to Etiene, Lenolkulal PA received Sh355, 000.
Etiene also owns Fass Bookshop and Stationery which records show he was paid Sh13million.
The county revenue officer Bosco Kialal Ngapiani received Sh42.3million through his company Trevor Investment Limited Leah Leparaiyo, a staff at agriculture ministry obtained Sh25million through her firm identified as Nabore Ltd.
Assembly Speaker Lempere was paid Sh6.8million through Lorien Lang Contractors Ltd, Stephen Lekupe CeC Lands received Sh41million through Samburu Guest House while Daniel LenolKirna was paid Sh2million through his company, The Great County Inn Ltd.
Out of the Sh2billion looted between July 2014 and July 2018, Eacc detectives have managed to trace Sh1.6billion