Samburu: Ex-Governor Moses Lenolkulal, 9 Others Found Guilty In KSh 83m Corruption Case

• Ex-Samburu governor Moses Lenolkulal was found guilty of abuse of office and conflict of interest
• According to the charge sheet, Lenolkulal was accused of using his Oryx Service Station to supply fuel to the county
• The court criticised the county secretary for approving payments, knowing well that Lenolkulal is the owner of Oryx Service Station

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Samburu - Former governor Moses Lenolkulal Kasaine has been convicted by the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court on multiple charges, including the unlawful acquisition of public property.

What offences did Moses Lenolkulal commit?

Lenolkulal, who faced charges in 2019, was found guilty of abuse of office and conflict of interest related to the loss of KSh 83 million.

He was accused of using his company, Oryx Service Station, to supply petrol and diesel to the Samburu county government, according to the court's charge sheet.

"After considering the submissions of all the parties, I conclude that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. I find Moses Lenolkulal and 11 accused persons jointly guilty, and I convict each one of you for public acquisition of public property," ruled Magistrate Thomas Nzioki.

In addition, the court criticised the county secretary, the second accused, for approving payments with knowledge of Lenolkulal's ownership of Oryx Service Station.

"The accounting office flatly lied on oath that they didn't know Lenolkulal was the owner of Oryx. They shouldn't have approved the payments to Oryx," said the court, which relied on 20 payment vouchers.

Who were the other convicted Samburu officials?

Also found guilty were Stephen Siringa, Daniel Nakuo, Josephine Naamo, Reuben Marumben, Milton Lenolngenje, Bernard Lesurmat, Lilian Balanga and Hesbon Ndathi

The court has denied bail to the convicts pending mitigation and sentencing.

Meanwhile, this marks the first conviction of a sitting or former Kenyan governor by the Anti-Corruption Court.

"It is the first corruption case of a criminal nature involving a governor to come to its logical conclusion despite an earlier attempt by the DPP to withdraw it," EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi said.

Kawira Mwangaza pleads not guilty

In other news, Meru governor Kawira Mwangaza denied charges levelled against her by Members of the County Assembly.

The MCAs accused the governor of gross violations of the Constitution and other laws, gross misconduct, and abuse of office.

Her lawyer, Elisha Ongoya, contended that the assembly's efforts had been focused on making allegations designed to embarrass Mwangaza.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke

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Former Samburu governor Moses Lenolkulal has been found guilty in KSh 83 million corruption case.

Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal convicted of corruption - The

Graft Watch: Ksh. 80M Case Against Lenolkulal Proceeds | Uzalendo News