List of 8 County Officers Fined Over Irregular Road Tender. County Revealed and Amount
Eight officers attached to the department of roads at the Kericho County government have been slapped with a total fine of Ksh.15.8 million after they were found guilty of irregularly awarding a Ksh.5.6 million tender.
The eight; Lillian Chepkoech, John Kimutai Rotich, Japheth Kipngeno, Peter Koskei, Joash Chirchir, Stanley Ruto, Charles Mabwai and Aaron Cheruiyot were arraigned in court facing various charges in 2020.
The tender was for the construction of the Bae-Kapsimotwet-Kibara road in Belgut constituency.
Lillian Chepkoech, the roads inspector, is said to have been the director of Jawlink Logistics Company which received Ksh.3.8 million for the construction of the road.
She was fined Ksh.9.6 million, slightly double the amount she received, or serve a three-year jail term if she defaults.
Chepkoech’s co-accused and co-directors of Jawlink Logistics Company, John Kimutai Rotich and Japheth Kipngeno, were fined Ksh.2 million each or serve 2 years in jail.
Peter Koskei, the former Roads Department Chief Officer, was fined Ksh.1.3 million or serve eight years in jail.
Koskei was found guilty of failing to comply with the law relating to the procurement by awarding the contract to Jawlink Logistics Limited.
Joash Chirchir (roads engineer), Stanley Ruto (roads inspector), Charles Mabwai (procurement officer) and Aaron Njoroge (accountant) were fined Ksh.300,000 or serve two years in prison.
They were charged under the Anti Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003, the National Constructions Act 2011, and the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act.
The sentencing was delivered by Kericho Ethics and Anti Corruption Court Chief Magistrate Evans Makori.
This followed the judgment delivered by Magistrate Samuel Mokua, which established that the prosecution led by State Counsel Lillian Muthoni had proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt.
The court granted the eight officers 14 days to appeal the judgment.
