Three former officials of National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) have been charged with Sh1.6M graft.
The three, Professor Thomas Ekamai, Isaac Symekah and Francis Mindo are accused of abuse of office, deceiving principal and unlawful acquisition of public property against the law.
Professor Thomas who was the then Chairman of the Authority did not appear in court for plea taking and he was directed to appear on July 29,2020.
Thomas, is accused that between July 2013 to February 2014, at the National Industrial Training Authority offices.
The professor is said to have acquired public property valued at Sh 1,681,534 as allowances for meetings he did not attend and visits he did not make.
In the second count, Thomas who is the Chairman of the national industrial training authority board is said to have given his principal a false document which is a taxi expenses of Sh 3000 from Eldoret Airport to Kenmasa hotel.
The professor is expected to answer to charges of deceiving principal contrary to section 41(2) as read with section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and economic Crimes Act,2003.
Intended charge sheet reads that on September 8 to 20,2013 at the NITA offices he gave a taxi receipt to your principal indicating that he incurred taxi expenses of Sh 10,000 from Eldoret to Nairobi.
In the fourth count, another accused Francis Mindo has been charged with abuse of office contrary to the law.
Court was informed that between July 2013 to February 2014,at the NITA offices, being an acting director and account officer at national industrial Authority, he used his office to improperly confer a benefit, to wit Sh 1,314,618as allowances to professor Thomas the then chairman of NITA Board, by authorizing payment for the said amount pf money without the requisite supporting documents.
Isaac Symekah yet another accused was charged with abuse of office against the law.
He is said that between July 2013 to February 2014, at the Authority offices, being the accountant, he used his office to improperly confer a benefit of Sh 1,681,534 as allowances to professor Thomas Ekamais the then Chairman of NITA by authorizing payment of the said amount without the requisite supporting documents.
Through their lawyers William Okech and Steven Biko, the suspects said that they are old and vulnerable to Covid-19 diseases thus they should be released on favorable cash bail.
“Mindo is 67 years old and has been a public servant for 37 years and therefore the court should release him on favorable bond terms,” said Okech.
Biko who is representing the professor said that he will present him to court during the next mention for plea taking.
The prosecution did not oppose bail terms but urged the court to consider that graft offenses are dragging the country behind.
Magistrate Douglas Ogoti of Anti-Corruption Court directed the matter to be mentioned on July 29/7/2020.
He released Mindo and Symekah on Sh 150,000 cash bail each.
Matter will be mentioned on July 11/2020.
