The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has obtained orders to recover Sh12,458,990 from a former political advisor to the first governor of Taita Taveta, John Mruttu.
This is after the Voi Chief magistrate Mildred Obura court found the accused, Geoffrey Kimonge, guilty of having fraudulently acquired the public funds by applying for imprest for fictitious activities while serving as Political Advisor to the former governor.
The Court ordered Kimonge to pay the government Sh12,458,990, together with interest at commercial rates from the date of acquisition until payment in full.
“EACC obtained orders on February 28 to recover Sh12,458,990 from a former political advisor to former Taita Taveta, John Mruttu,” EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said in a statement
Kimonge was charged at the Voi law courts in 2022 after EACC began investigations in 2020 after the anti-corruption authority got complaints that he had fraudulently acquired Sh13,878,587.00 in form as imprest purportedly for allowances of members of the County Assembly Wards and staff of County Government of Taita Taveta.
EACC filed a civil recovery suit seeking various orders to declare that the former Taita Taveta County employee illegally and fraudulently acquired the funds in breach of public trust, as they requested he be ordered to pay the amount with interest.
In his statement after obtaining the court orders, Mohamud said they are committed to ensuring that stolen public resources are reverted.
“The Commission welcomes the Court decision and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that stolen public resources revert to the people of Kenya,” he stated.
The latest purge against graft by the anti-graft authority comes a few days after the commission indicated in its quarterly report an instance where officials from the counties of Nairobi, Kitui, Migori, Kakamega, Bomet, and Baringo counties were involved in the embezzlement of Sh1 billion.