The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has charged six Homa Bay County officials and a private company over the alleged embezzlement of Ksh348,927,840 meant for the construction of the County Assembly office block.
Those charged are Odhiambo Daniel Kaudo, former Clerk of the Homa Bay County Assembly; Patrick Tonui, Senior Superintendent Quantity Surveyor at the State Department for Public Works; Faith Adhiambo Apuko, Acting Clerk of the County Assembly; Roseline Anyango Odhiambo, CEC for Lands and Housing; James Mumali Oyukah, Public Health Officer; Mary Pauline Oduor, Principal Nurse at Homa Bay County Referral Hospital; and Hartland Enterprises Limited.
The accused face multiple charges including abuse of office, wilful failure to comply with public finance regulations, conflict of interest, and unlawful acquisition of public property.
The prosecution says that on February 10, 2022, Kaudo improperly awarded Tender No. HBCA/T/W6/2018–2019 to Hartland Enterprises without competitive bidding.
Patrick Tonui is accused of certifying work that was not done, while Apuko allegedly authorised payments without proper documentation.
Roseline Odhiambo is charged with approving the project without a valid allotment letter.
Kaudo and Apuko are also accused of failing to ensure compliance, including submission of a valid performance guarantee by Hartland Enterprises.
Oyukah and Oduor face conflict of interest charges, reportedly holding private stakes in the tender through a company they direct.
Hartland Enterprises, Oyukah, and Oduor are further accused of unlawfully acquiring Ksh66,714,925 for work not carried out between September 2021 and April 2023.
All accused pleaded not guilty before Kisii Law Courts Chief Magistrate Hon. M. Obura.
The court imposed bond terms of Ksh30 million with one surety for Kaudo, Apuko, Tonui, Oyukah, Roseline Odhiambo, and Hartland Enterprises, while Oduor was granted Ksh5 million with two sureties.