Kenya School of Law staff arrested over Ksh 198m irregular payments

The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji has Tuesday ordered the arrest and prosecution of 12 people, six of whom are senior employees at Kenya School of Law (KSL) over allegations of irregular payments of Ksh. 198,441,030.60

The business entities said to have received the money are Ademwa Enterprises, Ngoya Cosmetics, Frigoya Investments, Alfranc Investments, Firmline Company and Deskench Investments

The six KSL staff are the Deputy Director/CEO, Kenya School of Law Professor Morris Kiwinda Mbondenyi, an assistant Director of Finance and Administration Amos Kabue Mwangi, Finance Manager Frank kackson Were, accountants Ephraim Thuku, Hudson Amwai Lwigado an Achiro Nobert Gondi assistant accountant also a proprietor of Firmline Company–one of the beneficiary firms.

They are to face charges alongside Paul Lovi Andenga (proprietor of Ademwa Enterprises), Fridah Ngoya Wanda of Ngoya Cosmetics and Frigoya Investments, Alfred Murange Lwigado of Alfrane Investments as well as Dennis Sam Achiro and Kenneth Ochieng–both directors of Deskench Investments.

The DPP said he was satisfied that there was sufficient evidence to support charges under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act 2003.

“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) commenced investigations into allegations of fraud at the Kenya School of Law in relation to fraudulent payment of Ksh 198,441,030.00/= to six companies associates with employees of Kenya School of Law for goods and serviced not supplied. Upon conclusion of the investigations, the EACC on 17^th May, 2019 forwarded the Investigation file and Report under Section 35 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, 2003 with recommendation that the suspects therein some of who are senior employees of the Kenya School of Law be charged with various offences.” said the DPP

“Upon review of the inquiry, I found gaps and deficiencies in key areas and returned the file to EACC with instructions to cover and resubmit. The file was resubmitted on 13^th December, 2019. Upon perusal, I found that the areas identified have not been fully covered. I once again directed EACC to cover the outstanding areas and resubmit for directions. On the 9^th June, 2020, EACC resubmitted the file with all the outstanding areas having been fully covered.” Added the DPP

He said that after reviewing the investigation report and the Inquiry file, he established that The Kenya School of Law lost Ksh 198,441,030.00 to businesses entities registered in the names of senior employees at the school.

He also established that the business entities were not pre-qualified to supply any goods and indeed never supplied any goods or services to the Kenya school of law.

“This therefore means that they were fraudulently paid the said monies.” He said

The DPP said he established that the fraud was perpetrated by the bank signatories to the Kenya school of Law accounts who were senior employees at the Finance department who would sign for different entities to be paid in cheque endorsement register and the effect payments.