Suspended Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) MD Joe Sang and other four top managers have been released on Kshs 2 million cash bail each, Kshs 3 million bond with surety of the same amount and Kshs 2 million personal bond, after being charged over the misappropriation of funds in the course of procurement and construction of the Kisumu Oil Jetty. The charges outlined by the DPP included willful failure to comply with applicable procedures and laws relating to the management of public funds, and engaging in a project without prior planning.
The five-MD Joe Sang, Vincent Cheruiyot who is the Head of Procurement, Company Secretary Gloria Khafafa, General Manager Infrastructure Billy Letunya Aseka, and Procurement Manager Nicholas Gitobu-who were arrested on Friday, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on Monday and denied all charges. The lawyers of the accused led by Senior Counsel Ahmednassir Abdullahi argued against the seriousness of the charges and called for reasonable bail terms. The accused were ordered to deposit their passports in court and the case will be mentioned on January 22, 2019.
Following the arrests of the officials last week, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining held consultations with the KPC board and appointed Mr. Hudson Andambi as the acting KPC MD, “This is to ensure that operations continue without interference for purposes of ensuring the security of supply of petroleum products,” read the Ministry’s statement.
