This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.
July 8, 2020 - Kirinyaga County Deputy Governor Peter Ndambiri is facing a probe by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) over allegations of embezzling Ksh 138 million from a donor-funded project.
The Ksh 138 million was part of the Ksh 571 million Homeland Educational International project, which aimed to support local students in learning online. The project was funded by DLAMS International, a non-governmental organization.
According to sources, Ndambiri allegedly saved the money in offshore accounts registered under the names of his two children.
However, Ndambiri has refuted the claims, stating that he invited the DCI to investigate the matter after reporting the theft of donor funds at the detectives' offices in Mwea, Kirinyaga.
He also denied reports that the funds were traced to his children's offshore accounts, instead claiming that he foiled a well-organized plan to embezzle the funds after Karoti Girls High School was singled out for the pilot project.
'The team (DLAMS) led by Professor Mwachodzi Mwachofi introduced themselves and I inquired whether he had all the required documentation and approvals from the Ministry of Education. I got suspicious about the dealings and reported the matter to the DCI. There was no money received or lost. The accusations are baseless and DCI making arrests indicates I did what was required of me,' Ndambiri defended in an interview with the Daily Nation.
DLAMS President Mwachodzi notified the DCI that a number of his staff were arrested on Wednesday, June 3, for reportedly managing an unregistered company. The suspects were detained for four days at Wang'uru Police Station and were later released on Ksh 2.4 million bonds.
The case comes a few weeks after Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru survived an impeachment case in Senate in June 2020, after she was accused by the County MCAs of corruption and gross violation of office. Ndambiri had led the onslaught against Waiguru after Senate cleared the Governor.
