Former Tourism CS Najib Balala arrives at Malindi Law Courts to face charges over Ksh 8.5 billion fraud

As The Star reports, Ngumbi said the individuals were apprehended in connection to the payment of Sh 8.5 billion for the construction of Kenya Utalii College in Kilifi.

“Investigations were undertaken by the commission regarding the payment of Sh8.5 billion by the Tourism Fund out of which Sh4 billion was paid to a company for consultancy services for the proposed Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo, Kilifi county,” Ngumbi said.

“Upon conclusion of the investigations, EACC submitted the investigation report to the DPP, and the DPP concurred with the recommendations to apprehend and charge 16 persons,” he added.

The suspects are facing ten counts of corruption and economic crimes, including procurement fraud and misappropriation of Sh8.5 billion of public funds, EACC said.

According to the EACC, the Tourism Fund illegally paid Sh8.5 billion for the setting up of a satellite Utalii College in the coast region.

The Sh 8.5 billion resulted from an increase in the cost of establishing the branch from Sh1.95 billion to Sh10.4 billion, EACC said.

According to the EACC, the construction of the college in Vipingo was approved for Sh1.948 billion in a cabinet memo signed by Balala on May 22, 2007, and his finance counterpart on August 20, 2007.

Former Tourism CS Najib Balala arrives at the Malindi Law Courts where he is expected to be arraigned over corruption allegations.

🎥:Philip Muyanga pic.twitter.com/ONAnQVdlYt

— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) December 22, 2023