A Nairobi court has frozen Sh1 billion in assets linked to Benson Muteti Musila, a senior employee at Kenya Rural Roads Agency (KeRRA), and his wife Zipporah Mwongeli.
Muteti and his spouse were barred from selling, transferring, subdividing, or interfering with the funds and prime properties in question, according to a ruling issued yesterday by Justice Esther Maina.
“I find the application meritorious, and I hereby order the respondents not to interfere, sell, or dispose of the assets listed herein in any way, pending the hearing and determination of the main application,” Justice Maina ruled.
The assets, including millions of shillings stashed in 22 bank accounts, 27 properties, shares in multiple companies, and schools, were ordered preserved by the judge pending the hearing and determination of the forfeiture of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s application (EACC).
Muteti, through his lawyer Migos Ogamba, opposed the application, claiming that he had other sources of income in addition to his salary at KeRRA, where he was the Coast regional manager.
“There is no charge of corruption filed against him.” “What is the justification for EACC freezing and attempting to recover property acquired prior to the period under investigation?” he asked.
The orders came after the commission sought to compel Muteti, his wife, and five others to forfeit to the state Sh952 million in unexplained assets acquired by Muteti, his wife, and five others between February 2009 and December 2018.
The fortune consists of Sh567 million in bank and Mpesa deposits, Sh347 million in land properties, Sh5.3 million in motor vehicles, and Sh2.2 million in listed securities shares and insurance policies worth Sh30 million at maturity
EACC claimed that it received credible information that Muteti routinely demanded and received bribes and kickbacks from contractors awarded tenders for the supply of public works, goods, and services in the Coast region while seeking preservation orders.