Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty in an Sh84 million fraud case by the anti-corruption court.
Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki ruled that there was sufficient evidence to prove that Lenolkulal fraudulently received Sh84 million for the supply of petroleum products. The court found that the former county governor, along with his co-accused, Hesbon Ndathi, were the ultimate beneficiaries of the misappropriated public funds.
Magistrate Nzyoki highlighted that Lenolkulal, as the governor of Samburu, acted in a clear conflict of interest. The evidence presented by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), led by prosecutor Wesley Namache, showed that Lenolkulal and his associates improperly approved payments to Oryx, a company owned by the former governor.
Lenolkulal, along with others, was charged in 2019 with abuse of office and conflict of interest, leading to the alleged loss of Sh84 million. The case revolved around his company, Oryx Service Station, which supplied petrol and diesel to the county government.
The court found that Lenolkulal knowingly acquired direct private interests in contracts between Oryx and the Samburu County government for the supply of fuel, violating the law.
