CoB Margret Nyakang’o freed on Sh500,000 bail, Karua terms arrest as harassment
The Controller of Budget Margret Nyakang’o has been freed on a Sh500,000 cash bail after pleading not guilty to four counts of conspiracy to defraud and forgery at Mombasa Law Courts.
Nyakang’o was arrested in connection with a complaint that was made against her and ten others in 2016 before she became the Controller of Budget.
The Office of Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP) approved the charges as per the letter seen by The Informer Media Group dated November 30, 2023.
The CoB together with the ten others faced the charges of defraud contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code, operating a Sacco without a Licence Contrary to Section 24 as read with Section 66 of the Sacco Societies Act, 2008, forgery and uttering a false document c/s 353 of the Penal Code.
This comes a few days after a report from her office sparked alarm over salaries and travel splurge by the county governments.
She said that the counties have been contravening the law by allocating high salaries for their spending.
In her report before the Senate Committee for Finance and Budget, Nyakang’o said 70 per cent of the total revenue on personnel emolument in the financial year that ended in June 2023 against the 35 per cent stipulated in the regulations 251(b) of the Public Finance Management Regulations 2015.
According to Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, the arrest of Nyakang’o is harassment.
Karua said the timing of the arrest of Nyakang’o was suspect, coming days after revealing details of budgeted corruption.
“Timing suggestive of harassment and intimidation, especially coming after her revealing testimony at Bomas.” Karua posted on her X account.
The Azimio leader wondered why the people Nyakang’o mentioned as orchestrating the loss of public funds have not been arrested.
”Those siphoning government money at treasury are scot-free but the whistleblower is under arrest.” she added.
