Eight former and current officials of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) have bee charged with alleged fraud involving a sh 62 million tender. 

The eight represented by lawyer Jared Magolo were presented before Mombasa Chief magistrate Alex Ithuku and denied the charges leveled against them by the director of public prosecutions

They were charged with 10 counts including fraudulent acquisition of public property, conflict of interest , money laundering, obtaining contract from a public institution by false pretence, forgery, and uttering false documents among others.

According to the charge sheet, between April 2, 2014, and June 2, 2015, the officials interfered with tender number KPA/036/2014-15/CE-for building works that was reserved for the disadvantaged group for Sh62,732,772.74.

Rose Cherotich  an  Account signatory of Chemiso East Africa, Robert Bosuben a Senior Clerical Officer at the Civil Engineering Department, Idd Arube an agent of Chemiso East Africa and Yobesh Oyaro – Former Head of Procurement and Supplies, Norah Mugambi - Member of the Evaluation Committee were released with sh 2 million bond and one surety or alternative cash bail of sh 500,000.

Others are Athanase Wambari a Member of the Evaluation Committee at  KPA, Azenath Kwamboka Mageto - Agent of Chemiso East Africa and David Angwenyi Member of the Evaluation Committee, KPA were released on a sh 1 Million bond or sh 100,000 cash bail.

Oyaro is accused that between April 2, 2014, and June 2, 2015, at KPA, being Head of Procurement and Supplies, failed to comply with the law relating to procurement.

He failed to ensure that a contract was in place before the issuance of purchase and service orders concerning the tender for building works reserved for people with disability.

They used a disability card bearing a name purporting it to be a genuine card from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities.

Bosuben, Cherotich and Mageto are accused of jointly and knowingly engaging in an arrangement in connection with Sh62,732,772.74 received with respect to tender number KPA/036/2014-15/CE.

The court heard that they used some local bank account numbers to conceal the source of the said amount whilst having reason to believe that the said monies are proceeds of crime.

Bosuben and Nanyang are also accused of fraudulently registering a business under a government portal, a fact you knew or believed to be false.

They are accused of fraudulently misrepresenting facts to influence the award of tender.

The ninth suspect, David Arika, has since retired and the prosecution could not reach him in time, however ,he will be summoned to appear in court on February 9.

The matter as directed by magistrate Alex Ithuku will be heard on February 2,after all the evidence statements are presented to the court.

They were arrested on Tuesday night by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives based in Mombasa.