Your days are numbered, ‘looting governors’ warned after Lenolkulal's conviction

By Peter Ochieng

DAP Kenya party leader Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa has warned governors against engaging in corruption, seemingly suggesting that their days are numbered.

He warned that any governor who loots county coffers shall be held accountable, when the right time comes.

“Corruption remains the greatest threat to devolution. May the conviction and sentencing of former Samburu governor Moses Lenolkulal act as a deterrence and reminder to Kenyan governors who continue looting county coffers and enriching themselves at the expense of their fellow Citizens, that they shall be held to account,” Wamalwa said in a post on his social media pages.

He is a former devolution and defence Cabinet Secretary (CS). His post came a day after former Samburu governor Moses Lenolkulal, was handed an 8-year jail term or pay a fine of Sh85 million, after he was found guilty of unlawfully acquiring Sh84 Million from the Samburu County coffers.

Lenolkulal, alongside 10 co-accused persons was found guilty of various charges, including abuse of office, conflict of interest, and unlawful acquisition of public property.

Milimani Anti-corruption Court Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzyioka noted that his ruling was guided by four factors of the objective of deterrence, retribution, denunciation and community protection.

He directed the former Samburu governor and businessman Hesbon Jack Wachira to each pay a fine of Sh84, reflecting the amount unlawfully acquired from public funds, and should they fail to pay, they face an alternative sentence of four years in prison.

The court further ordered the former governor to pay a fine of Sh1 million, or in default serve another four years for the offence of conflict of Interest.

Other former county officers; Daniel Nakuo Lenolkirina, Josephine Naamo Lenasalia, Reuben Marumben Lemunyete, Linus Milton Lenolngenje, Paul Lolmingani, Benard Ltarasi Lesurmat and Lilian Balanga were ordered to pay a fine of Sh700,000 each or serve 4 years imprisonment after they were convicted for the offence of abuse of office.

Reacting to the sentence, Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) spokesman said they are investigating over 40 former and current governors over graft allegations.