Bomet county official jailed for 5 years for fraud and abuse of office. Photo/courtesy
A Kericho court jailed a Bomet county procurement officer Ezekiel Chirchir for five years over abuse of office and fraud.
The court found Chirchir guilty for abuse of office and purchase of six ambulances worth Sh3.6 millions.
However, Joseph Ndururi senior magistrate set free 13 other officers who were accused together with Chirchir.
"It is public knowledge that a huge percentage of corruption related cases in Kenya revolves around the issues of procurement. It is, therefore, necessary where clear evidence has emerged of malpractice in the procurement process that the court should hand down a sentence that would send a harsh message to those involved in such malpractice," Joseph Ndururi, Senior magistrate, said.
"The accused was entrusted with the authority to guard taxpayers' money he had the option of nullifying the whole process but he chose not to. Though county govenrment of Bomet did not lose any money in this process, the contract was procured without any competition at all. Further, the eleventh accused person who is a professional in procurement ought to have guided the entire process," he added.
Chirchir reportedly committed the offence between October, 20 and December, 2013.