EACC to get Sh615m from former KRA employee

The Court of Appeal has given the anti-corruption body the greenlight to proceed with recovery proceedings against a former senior Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) official Joseph Chege Gikonyo (pictured) and his wife Lucy Kangai Stephen over unexplained wealth estimated to be more than Sh615 million.

This is after the appellate Court Judges Daniel Musinga, Imaana Laibuta and Ngenye Macharia overturned a High Court decision that had thwarted attempts of Ethic and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to recover Sh615 million corruptly acquired assets held by Gikonyo, his wife and their company known as Giche Ltd.

Questionable assets

In their decision, the judges also set aside a ruling by the High Court that had lifted orders freezing Gikonyo’s questionable assets pending the hearing and determination of the recovery suit by EACC.

“In view of the foregoing, we hereby order and direct that the ruling and orders of the High Court Judge Hedwig Ong’udi dated November 23, 2018 be and are hereby set aside.

The appellant’s (EACC) case to wit ACECA No. 14 of 2018 be and is hereby remitted to the High Court for hearing and determination on the forfeiture application on its merits,” the judges ordered.

Justice Ong’undi had declined an application by EACC to preserve the unexplained wealth held by Gikonyo pending conclusion of the recovery proceedings. She had also issued orders that had excluded four prime properties held by Giche Limited, a company owned by Gikonyo from the forfeiture suit.