Former Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa
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Former Defense Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa says that the conviction of the former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal should serve as a warning to governors who are stealing from their county funds.
Lenolkulal was on Thursday sentenced by Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki for unlawfully acquiring property and engaging in conflicts of interest during his tenure, having corruptly enriched himself by Sh83 million. According to Wamalwa, corruption remains the most significant threat to devolution in Kenya. His remarks come at a time when public trust in local government is eroding, with citizens demanding more stringent anti-corruption measures. The court's ruling ordered Lenolkulal to pay a fine of Sh83 million or face eight years in prison.
"Corruption remains the greatest threat to Devolution. May the conviction and sentencing of former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal act as a deterrence and reminder to Kenya Governors who continue looting County coffers and enriching themselves at the expense of their fellow Citizens, that they shall be held to account," Wamalwa said.
His proxy, Hesbon Ndathi, received a similar penalty. Several county officials implicated in the scandal were also fined Sh700,000 each, with some facing up to four years of imprisonment. These sentences reflect the judiciary's commitment to combating corruption and serve as a deterrent to other officials who might contemplate similar misconduct. The details of the case reveal that Lenolkulal had used his company, Oryx Service Station, to supply fuel to the Samburu county government, creating a clear conflict of interest.
This breach of ethics exemplifies the concerning intersection of public office and private profit that many Kenyans are eager to address through reform. The ruling's implications extend beyond Lenolkulal, fueling momentum for more effective mechanisms to monitor county expenditures and ensure governors adhere to higher ethical standards. Magistrate Nzyoki emphasized the importance of deterrence in his ruling, considering objectives such as retribution, denunciation, and community protection. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) had advocated for the maximum penalty in the Sh84 million corruption case against the former Samburu Governor, despite previously seeking to withdraw the charges.
Representing DPP Renson Ingonga, prosecuting counsel Riungu Gitonga urged Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki to impose a severe sentence, emphasizing that Lenolkulal had betrayed the trust of Samburu's marginalized community. Arguing that corruption should be made "painful," the ODPP called for the forfeiture of properties obtained through misappropriated funds. The prosecution highlighted the irony of a well-compensated governor seeking additional personal gain and stressed the importance of an appropriate sentence for the accused, who are first-time offenders but have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.