By Nelson Musungu, Bungoma
Seven officials of the Rift Valley Water Services Board, who are facing a corruption case involving KES 600 million, will know the fate of their case on September 4 this year when Chief Magistrate Josphat Gichimu of the Bungoma Anti-Corruption Court delivers his ruling.
The Bungoma Anti-Corruption Court has set Thursday, September 4, as the date to deliver judgment in the case, which involves the misuse of KES 600 million in the Malaba Water and Sanitation Project tender by Rift Valley Water Services Board officials.
The officials are accused of using forged documents to irregularly award a tender to Mactebac Contractors Limited for the construction of the Malaba Water Project during the 2018/2019 financial year.
Among those charged are Rachael Makokha, Agnes Bowen, Patrose Leshinga, and Jared Okungu.
They are alleged to have awarded the water project tender to Mactebac Contractors Limited, a private company owned by Joram Opala Otieno, in the 2018/2019 financial year. The project was to be funded by the African Development Bank Group.
Investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Bungoma Anti-Corruption Court revealed that although Mactebac Contractors Limited was awarded the tender, the company lacked the capacity to execute the Malaba Water and Sanitation Project.
Evidence further showed that Rift Valley Water Services Board officials forged documents to fraudulently benefit the company.
In today’s proceedings, Chief Magistrate Josphat Gichimu issued a warrant of arrest against Joram Opala, the owner of Mactebac Contractors Limited, after he failed to appear in court where the verdict was scheduled to be delivered.
As a result of skipping the session, the 7th accused forfeited his cash bail of Ksh500,000.
