The trial of Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana and 17 co-accused individuals accused of defrauding the Kilifi County Government of Ksh.51 million commenced in a Malindi court on Wednesday. Former Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) liaison officer Gabriel Mkare testified that six companies associated with Senator Mungatana illicitly siphoned funds from the county’s accounts at the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
Mkare informed Chief Magistrate Elizabeth Usui that the fraudulent activities came to light when an invoice for payment to temporary county employees on strike was rejected by IFMIS due to insufficient funds. This triggered an investigation revealing irregular transactions that had bypassed standard validation and approval processes.
According to Mkare, the companies involved were not recognized by the county government, and funds were withdrawn from their accounts before the discrepancies were detected. He detailed specific transactions, such as those involving Daima One Enterprises, Leadership Edge Associates, Kilingi Investments Company, Zohali Services Limited, Makega Suppliers Limited, and Jahazi Investments Company Limited, highlighting how funds were withdrawn after irregular payments.
Senator Mungatana and his co-accused, including Kilifi County officials and business people, were arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) officers in April 2019. The case has been ongoing for five years as the prosecution gathered witnesses, with the trial expected to continue until all testimonies are presented.
