This archive report was first published on 22 October 2019.
On October 22, 2019, former Deputy Auditor General Stephen Kinuthia and 13 others were charged with corruption-related offenses over the alleged fraudulent purchase of an audit vault.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) alleged that the vault was inflated to Ksh.100 million, yet only Ksh.36 million was paid to the supplier.
Between July 2012 and August 2014, the office of the auditor general allegedly swindled the taxpayer of more than Ksh.64 million through the purchase, which flouted procurement rules.
Appearing before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti, Kinuthia and the others denied the charges of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption, conflict of interest, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering, and dealing with suspect property.
The accused persons included Annette Mwangi, Patrick Shem Kamau Kairu, Ephantus Kairu Kahwae, and several others, as well as companies such as Osi Kenya Limited and Mars Technology Limited.
