Deputy Commissioner General of Prisons Benjamin Obuya and four others were charged today at the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court for allegedly fraudulently acquiring 302 million shillings as payment for undelivered goods.

Obuya, along with State Department for Correctional Services employees Joseph Kamau (Principal Accountant), James Nyang’au Gekobe (Accountant II), Joseph Ochoki Omaiyo (Warder), and businessman Steven Kisonzo Mulwa, are accused of conspiring to commit economic crimes.

The charges state that between July 1, 2014, and March 29, 2018, they fraudulently obtained public property amounting to Ksh 301,908,000 for goods that were never received by the State Department for Correctional Services.

They face charges of conspiracy, Abuse of Office under Sections 46 and 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No. 3 of 2003, Fraudulent Acquisition of Public Property under Sections 45(1)(a) and 48 of the same Act, and Money Laundering under Sections 3(a)(i) and 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act.

Before Principal Magistrate Celesa Asis Okore, all accused pleaded not guilty and were each granted a bond of 7 million shillings with one surety of the same amount or an alternative cash bail of 4 million shillings, and they were ordered to surrender their passports to the court.

Prosecution counsel Wesley Nyamache requested the court to issue new summons against Humphrey Wende Abok and Joseph Kariuiki for their failure to appear in court for a second time, which the court approved.

The case is set for mention on August 2, 2024.