Officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission have arrested four employees of the Kwale County government over graft allegations.
Kwale County Head of Treasury Vincent Mbito and his four brothers, working in various Departments in the county, were arrested by EACC detectives early Tuesday.
EACC says the Mbitos are the Directors/owners of two companies namely Chilongola Holdings and Rome Investments (k) Limited, which they have been using to execute fraudulent deals with the Kwale County Government.
The suspects include County Head of Treasury Vincent Chirima Mbito, Mongo Mbito Mongo-County Revenue Officer, Hassan Shilingi Mbito- Driver,Kwale Water and Sewerage Company Limited, Mwaiwe Mongo Mbito- Kwale County Procurement Officer and Chindoro Mongo Mbito who was formerly an Intern attached to Kwale County.
Soon after their arrests, the suspects were escorted from Mombasa Central Police Station to the Mombasa Anti-Corruption Court to take plea.
The current charges relate to 10 contracts fraudulently awarded to the companies; Rome Investments and Chilongola Limited; which EACC says were paid exaggerated amounts of 44,919,341 and 4,007,943 shillings respectively.
The total amount, according to EACC investigations, was distributed to the suspects.
The tenders allegedly obtained in violation of procurement laws using forged documents, were for the supply and delivery of sanitation materials, food and ration, general office supplies, and institutional appliances.
In its fourth quarter report released on Friday, EACC had preferred to charge Mbito with Conflict-of-interest contrary to Section 42(3) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-corruption and Economic Crimes Act, No. 3 of 2003.
This followed inquiry into allegations of conflict of interest and procurement irregularities with EACC investigations establishing that the companies were awarded ten tenders to supply and deliver sanitation materials, food and ration, general office supplies, and institutional appliances.
According to EACC, The tender documents including purchase requisition forms, minutes of the tender opening committee, letters of appointment of inspection and acceptance committee and inspection and acceptance minutes relating to the said tenders were forgeries and the same were presented at the Kwale County Government by Peter Midas; the Accountant and Suleiman Mazera the Hospital Administrator.
EACC had also recommended to charge Peter Midas Wanje and Suleiman Mazera with offence of uttering a false document, deceiving principal and fraudulent practise in procurement.
