NYS Scam Suspect Ben Gethi Sentenced to Five Years in Prison over IEBC Tender Fraud

Ben Gethi, a key suspect in the Sh791 million National Youth Service (NYS) scam, has been sentenced to five years in prison for using forged documents to win a Sh107 million tender for the supply of solar lanterns to IEBC for use in the 2013 general election.

Gethi and his co-director Joyce Makena were found guilty of forging documents in order to win the tender for their company named Solarmak Technologies.

The two were handed a five-year jail sentence each or an alternative fine of Sh4 million each.

Anti-corruption court magistrate Lawrence Mugambi noted that although the two did not succeed in their scheme after the Public Procurement Administrative Review Board nullified the bid, they were dishonest and should be punished for their shady deal.

“Although they did not succeed in their fraudulent scheme, the tender related to the supply of election materials to a key institution is an offense that ought to attract a serious fine,” magistrate Lawrence said.

Former IEBC officers Kennedy Ochae, Willie Gachanja, and Gabriel Mutunga were also sentenced after they were found guilty of altering tender documents to favor Gethi’s company.

Ochae was sentenced to serve one year in jail or pay a fine of Sh200,000, Mutunga was slapped with a fine of Sh2.8 million or serve two years, while Kamanga will pay a fine of Sh800,000 or a year in prison.