EACC freezes assets worth over Sh600million for former Machakos CEC
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has frozen two bank accounts that hold Sh.11.5 million belonging to a former Machakos county executive.
Urbanus Wambua Musyoka is currently under investigation over a Sh637 million graft case.
Following an injunction obtained from the High court, the order prevents him from transferring funds to and from the account.
He is also prohibited from selling his two motor vehicles, a parcel of land in the Kibauni area, and a house under construction in Machakos, pending a hearing of the case on May 26, 2022.
“That the first defendant, his agents or any other persons is restrained from withdrawing, transferring, disposing of, wasting or in any other way, dealing with the funds held in the following bank accounts,” said High Court Judge Esther Maina.
EACC notes that between January 2014 and July 2021, Musyoka using his position in government, had funds which did not commensurate with his known sources of income.
“The 1st Defendant received substantial successive cash deposits in his various bank accounts which he could not satisfactorily demonstrate the source. The Commission suspects that the same were bribes and proceeds of crime received by the 1st Defendant by virtue of his employment at the County Government of Machakos,” the petition reads in part.
The EACC claims that Musyoka awarded companies linked to tenders and contracts between 2013 and 2015.
The anti-graft body also alleged that Musyoka was involved in nepotism by awarding his kin and friends contracts and tenders.
Some of the companies under investigation include Wisdom Holdings Ltd, Wemmar Enterprise Ltd, Wafih International Ltd, and Kikoto General Merchants.
EACC documents reveal that Wafih International wired Sh145.9 million while Wisdom Holdings obtained Sh166 million.
Wemmar and Kikoto were transferred to Sh55.8 million and Sh163.5 million, respectively.
“Investigations by the Plaintiff revealed that between January 2014 and July 2021 the 1st Defendant awarded tenders amounting to Sh531,344,039 to companies associated with him,” read the petition.
“The 1st Defendant acquired landed property and other assets valued at Sh105,809,831.00. The total cumulative value of all these assets less his salary earned during the period of interest amounted to Sh637,153,870.80.”
Interestingly, the four companies allegedly did not remit taxes to the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) tax. The total amount being Sh181.7 million.
