Nabutola to be tried for Sh9m fraud

Former Tourism permanent secretary Rebecca Nabutola has a case to answer over a Sh8.9 million tender scandal.

The anti corruption court ruled on Thursday that Ms Nabutola, former Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) boss Ong’ong’a Achieng and businessman Duncan Muriuki must defend themselves against the charges.

They are accused of conspiring to defraud the Ministry of Tourism of Sh8.9 million. (READ: Ex-tourism boss on why he paid Sh9m)

The decision was made by the former chief magistrate Cecelia Githua who has since been appointed to the High Court. It was delivered by Mrs Lucy Nyambura who took over the case.

She ruled that the prosecution had established a case against the suspects. The prosecution, led by state counsel Warui Mungai, called 20 witnesses.

The magistrate directed the suspects to present their defence starting December 13. The hearing will proceed for three days.

Ms Nabutola and Dr Ong’ong’a are accused of unprocedurally awarding a tender to a private company, Maniago Safaris, for a promotional tour for permanent secretaries and the media to Masai Mara between June and December 2007.

Ms Nabutola and Dr Ong’ong’a each face additional charges of abuse of office.

Nabutola is accused of appointing a private firm to co-ordinate transport to the game reserve and instructing the Catering and Tourism Development Levy Trustees to foot the bill.

The prosecution argued that a 2007/8 audit at the KTB revealed funds were illegally released to Mr Muriuki’s Maniago Safaris purportedly to organise a trip to Masai Mara
But the defence disputed the claims, saying the prosecution had failed to prove the case against the suspects.

The case was filed in 2009 by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, whose duties have since been taken over by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.

Ms Nabutola was forced to step aside, while Dr Achieng was sacked over the claims.