The Director of Public Prosecutions has approved the prosecution of nine suspects, including three National Treasury officials, over the alleged misappropriation of more than KSh1.5 billion under the Programme for Rural Outreach of Financial Innovation and Technologies (PROFIT).
The nine suspects comprise three National Treasury officials and six private-sector individuals linked to various companies and businesses. The DPP said it approved the charges after reviewing an inquiry file submitted by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) concerning the alleged embezzlement of KSh1,569,582,338.20 by officials tasked with coordinating the PROFIT programme.
The three Treasury officials are John Ngure Kabutha, the PROFIT Programme Coordinator; Namwel Moturi Motanya, Head of the Accounting Unit at the National Treasury; and John Maina Muriithi, a Senior Accountant at the National Treasury. The other six suspects are Gladys Juliet Oroni alias Gladys Juliet, Brian Kiprop Chepkarat, Ian Kwemoi Chepkarat, Josephat Kamau Kamoshe, James Omwodo Ndai and Jimmy Carter Odoyo Osodo.
According to the ODPP, its independent and thorough review of the inquiry file established sufficient evidence to charge the nine suspects with offences including abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property, uttering a false document, financial misconduct, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The DPP has directed that all nine suspects, as well as the implicated companies and businesses, be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.
