An elaborate scheme of grand theft from public coffers at Samburu County has unearthed 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.
Detectives at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) were yesterday scrutinising documents carted away from governor Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal’s Nairobi and Samburuhome in from his office.
Bank records, electronic devices and files were picked from homes of thirteen other Samburu County government employees including Speaker of Samburu County Assembly Solomon Lempere and governor’s personal assistant Simon Etieni lelesit.
According to investigations on the embezzlement of Sh2billion, records of money trail in possession of detectives show the money was stolen through payments advanced to 21 private firms linked to governor’s associates.
“During the period various companies were paid sh970, 062,482for various contracts out of which they paid sh86, 290,105 in bribes to senior county staff.” Records at Eacc shows.
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.
Lelesit 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 LasitoLeleruk.
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.
“The profiling, which involved covert financial investigations, established that companies that were awarded contracts paid bribes to county government employees. Through financial analysis and covert visits to the ground, Eacc established that most of the companies which received the payments never provided the services they were paid for. The award of the contracts was just an intricate scheme to embezzle public funds.” A report by Eacc reads in part.
Further, out of the Sh34million controversially paid to MeagariConstruction, 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 TipitoContractors Limited (Sh7.8million) respectively.
Eleven of the firms trading with the county government are owned by staff members and received a total of Sh673million.
Oryx Service Station owned by the governor was paid a total of Sh73.9million while 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.
“Covert field inspections of some of the awarded contracts revealed that no works were done despite the County government making payments in full.
Further profiling of the officials involved revealed that they have invested the embezzled funds in real estate development which has been identified and traced.” Part of the report says.
Out of the Sh2billion looted between July 2014 and July 2018, Eacc detectives have managed to trace Sh1.6billion