Governor Lenolkulal didn't conspire to steal county cash, witness
Samburu Governor Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal in a Nairobi Court on February 12, 2020, during the hearing of a case where he is charged with conspiracy to defraud the county of Sh87.6 million. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Mr Lekalkuli said apart from Oryx Service Station, the county procured fuel services from two other stations in Maralal town and Baragoi in Samburu North in a competitive process.
Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal and 10 other accused persons did not conspire to steal public funds, a Nairobi court was told on Friday.
During the cross examination, head of Samburu Treasury Joseph Lekalkuli said he was not aware of any scheme by the 11 accused persons to steal from the county funds.
“I don’t know of any plot by the accused persons to steal public property in Samburu County,” Mr Lekalkuli told Judge Thomas Nzioki.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The governor, who is accused of conflict of interest by trading with the county government through Oryx Service Station for the supply of fuel amounting to Sh87.6m said when he was elected as Samburu governor, he transferred the proprietorship of the Service Station to prevent any issues of conflict of interest that may arise.
“I shall not direct or take part of any procurement of any of the petroleum products in Oryx Service Station and I shall not, after a procurement contract has been entered into, take part in any decision relating to the procurement or contract,” he said in Declaration of Interest letter dated April 5, 2013.
During the cross examination, which took two hours, Mr Lekalkuli said apart from Oryx Service Station, the county procured fuel services from two other stations in Maralal town and Baragoi in Samburu North in a competitive process.
Mr Lekalkuli, who is the first of 43 State witnesses lined up by prosecution to testify against the second-term governor, also said as county head of treasury, he was not influenced by Mr Lenolkulal or any of the other 10 accused to approve any payment voucher.
10 SUSPECTS
Last year, the governor and 10 suspects were arrested in connection to fuel-supply scandal in which Oryx Service Station, which the DPP alleged to be owned by the county chief, was given a tender to supply the county government against the law.
Mr. Lenolkulal termed their arrest as “political witch-hunt.’ According to the witness, the governor did not acquire a direct private interest by being a supplier of fuel to the county government which he heads. The hearing of the case continues on February 25, 2020.
