FORMER KNTC MD PAMELA NDUKU MUTUA AND EX-SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER AMOS SIKUKU FACE TRIAL OVER MULTI-BILLION EDIBLE OILS TENDER IRREGULARITIES
The court is set to start the trial of former Managing Director of KNTC, Pamela Nduku Mutua, over procurement irregularities in the multi-billion edible oils scandal. The charges facing her relate to non-disclosure of the award of tenders to PPRA in 2022.
Mutua faces five counts, four of them relating to failure to notify PPRA after tenders were awarded to Purma Holdings Limited, Multi Commerce FZC, Standard Petroleum LLC, and Makram Imports and Exports.
The counts indicate that on the December 5, 2022, as the MD and accounting officer at KNTC, Mutua is accused of having flouted procurement regulations by failure to notify PPRA of tender awards. The allegations relate to non-compliance with procedures.
There is no report of loss of funds; it is non-adherence to procurement regulations. Apart from the charges levied against her, Mutua is also accused of flouting section 104 c of PPAD, 2015.
This particular charge emanates from her failure to seek approval prior to the procurement process for bulk commodities dated 8 November 2022.
The legal troubles of Mutua are not isolated as she is charged alongside Amos Sikuku, who used to serve as the Supply Chain and Logistics Manager at KNTC.
Sikuku is accused of having committed an offense of abuse of office contrary to sections 101 and 102 (a) of the Penal Code. The accusation against Sikuku is issuing a professional opinion on the tender for bulk commodities dated November 16, 2022, which prima facie harmed the interests and rights of the republic.
The two, Mutua and Sikuku, appeared in court before Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Thomas Nzioki and pleaded not guilty to the charge sheet.
Their counsel applied for lenient bail terms since the charges do not relate to the direct loss of money or fraudulent acquisition of public property. His advocate emphatically brought out the contradictions of media reports, which indicate a vast loss in finances yet it doesn’t correspond with what is charged in the charge sheet. The lawyer prayed that media houses report on the case accurately and in its real nature of the charges.
Mutua was released on bail on a bond of Sh5 million or an alternative cash bail of Sh1.5 million.
Sikuku was released on a bond of Sh1 million or a cash bail of Sh500,000.
Mutua exited KNTC in January after the board of the corporation advertised her position among other vacancies.
