Eight former and current officials of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) were charged with alleged fraud involving a Sh62 million tender.

The eight represented by lawyer Jared Magolo were presented before Mombasa Chief Magistrate Alex Ithuku and denied the charges levelled against them by the director of Public Prosecutions.

They were charged with ten counts including fraudulent acquisition of public property, conflict of interest, money laundering, obtaining contract from a public institution by false pretence, forgery, and uttering false documents among others.

According to the charge sheet, between April 2, 2014, and June 2, 2015, the officials interfered with tender number KPA/036/2014-15/CE-for building works that was reserved for the disadvantaged group for Sh62,732,772.74.

Cash bail

Rose Cherotich, an account signatory of Chemiso East Africa, Robert Bosuben, a Senior Clerical Officer at the Civil Engineering Department, Idd Arube, an agent of Chemiso East Africa and Yobesh Oyaro, former Head of Procurement and Supplies, Norah Mugambi, a member of the Evaluation Committee were each released on a Sh2 million bond and one surety or a cash bail of Sh500,000 each.

Others are Athanase Wambari, a member of the Evaluation Committee at KPA, Azenath Kwamboka Mageto, an agent of Chemiso East Africa and David Angwenyi, a member of the Evaluation Committee, KPA were each released on a Sh1 million bond or Sh100,000 cash bail.

They used a disability card bearing a name purporting it to be a genuine card from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

The matter will be heard on February 2 after all the evidence statements are presented to the court.
They were arrested on Tuesday night by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives based in Mombasa.