By Sarah Omondi
The Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes court will next month issue directions into the ongoing case over alleged procurement irregularities in the acquisition and installation of Sh80 million oxygen plants in Isiolo whose contract was awarded to Hitmax Limited which was not the lowest bidder.
The Anti-graft agency established that it was a well-coordinated scheme to defraud public funds meant for development.
The oxygen plants, that were to be installed at Isiolo Referral and Garbatulla Sub-County hospitals, were never installed at all.
EACC application to preserve Sh13 million held in Hitmax Limited bank accounts and Sh50 million property in Lavington owned by Dennis Kimani Njau, one of the company’s directors, was allowed in July 2020.
The agency had sought to prohibit transfer and disposal or other dealings with the maisonette on LR No 3734/937 (originally No 3734/915) in Nairobi.
Milimani High Court Lady Justice Mumbi Ngugi on June 30, 2020 issued injunction orders pending hearing and determination of the EACC’s application seeking to prohibit the respondents and agents, servants or other persons from withdrawing, transferring or disposing and wasting and in any way dealing with the funds in the bank accounts.
Further, the court issued orders prohibiting the transfer, disposal or dealings with the maisonette that is reportedly registered and owned by Mr Kimani and Oceanic Oil Limited.
The 14 respondents in the case are Mr Kimani, Rebecca Wanjiru Muriuki, Hitmax Limited, Ali Ibrahim, Stephen Mwini, Samson Ragira, Jesee Kariuki, Hussein Ali and Joyce Kaballe Alake Huka.
Others are George Gitonga Ntuara, Qabale Hussein Golicha, Fusha Trade Credit Co Ltd, Oceanic Oil Ltd and Lawrence Kinyua Mbijiwe.
The matter was set to be mentioned for further directions on September 23, 2020.
Its last mention was on May 18, 2021 before the Milimani High Court in Nairobi.
The case is scheduled for further mention on September 22 for fixing of the hearing date.
