EACC grills auctioneers over alleged fraudulent sale of Matili Technical Training Institute assets
This follows the arrest of three Directors of the Ramagon Construction Company Limited last Thursday
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is grilling auctioneers involved in selling the assets of Matili Technical Training Institute (MTTI) in Bungoma County over a fake and fraudulent debt.
The suspects, Brown Tsuma Mukanda and Kennedy Kweyu Shikuku, proprietors of Eshikhoni Auctioneers, are accused of benefiting from the proceeds of the sale of a driving school vehicle worth Ksh 5.4 million, which was sold for Ksh 1.2 million.
The two were summoned to the EACC regional officesalongside Samson Itonde, owner of Dominion Auctioneers, who is currently engaged by Ramagon Construction Company to seize and auction more assets on account of a payment claim that EACC investigations have since established to be fake and non-existent.
The auctioneers are being questioned as part of ongoing investigations into allegations of corruption, unlawful acquisition of public property, and conspiracy to commit economic crimes related to public properties belonging to the Matili Technical Training Institute.
The grilling follows the arrest of three directors of Ramagon Construction Company Limited last Thursday in connection to ongoing investigations on irregular procurement in the construction of a twin workshop complex at the institution.T
EACC said the three, Abdi Barre Abdi, Hassan Bare Abdi, and Nagenye Mohamud Dahir, conspired with public officials to inflate the original contract which was valued at Ksh 29.3 million to Ksh 59 million resulting to an overpayment yet services were not rendered.
Further, the suspects falsely claimed a further Ksh 9 million, leading to the fraudulent auction of the vehicle.
They were apprehended at the Bungoma Police Station where they recorded statements and later escorted to the EACC regional headquarters.
They were later taken to their residences where the sleuths conducted a search and chartered away with documents which they believe are linked to the institution tenders.
Confirming the raid at their houses, EACC said the documents shall be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) with recommendations for criminal charges and asset recovery.
”Once the investigations are over, the findings shall be submitted to the DPP, who will then recommend the charges,” a source at the anti-graft body stated.
This came after the Bungoma High Court declined to issue orders sought by EACC to stop the auction.
The decision by Lady Justice Rose Ougo was met with shock by students and activists in Bungoma.
Ramagon Contractors seized and sold the Institute’s training tools, electronic equipment, power generators, and food supplies after expiry of notice issued by the auctioneering firm.
Investigations by EACC reveal that Ramagon falsely claimed a debt from the school, yet it was settled back in 2017.The situation has left the institute in a critical state, with increasing concerns among stakeholders and local leaders about the potential closure of the school.
