One must be really brave to try and involve themselves in corruption in one of the most powerful offices in the country. Don’t you think so? By the time you are thinking of cooking up some corrupt dealings for the House on the hill, you must have gathered a whole lot of courage.
Mr Fredrick Mangala Muhanji, alias Douglas Simiyu, one of the suspects believed to be among the masterminds of a multimillion fake tender supply at State House and Department of Defence (DOD) was charged with fraud, theft, forgery and masquerading as a National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer.
Mr. Muhanji who was arrested last week appeared before Kiambu Chief Magistrate Patricia Gichohi, who read out six counts related to fraud, stealing, forgery, uttering fake documents and impersonation.
In the first count, the accused was charged with conspiracy to defraud which is contrary to section 317 of the Penal Code. The charge sheet read that on diverse dates in January this year, jointly with others not before court, conspired with intent to defraud by means of fake tender number STHSE/SUPLS/0451-404/2017-2018/SH, dated January 9, 2018, obtained 1200 laptops valued at Sh96 million from Charles Gathii.
The accused, together with others, are reported to have issued Mr Gathii, the Director Microhouse Technologies Limited, a software development company, a Ksh. 200 million tender to supply the laptops to State House for installation of a security system.
The second count read that on diverse dates between January 18 and January 22 in Kilimani, jointly with others not before court, the accused stole 1200 HP laptops worth Ksh. 96 million, the property of Mr Gathii, whom they are said to have lied to that they were delivering the goods to State House.
He also denied making a fake document contrary to section 375 (a) of the Penal Code, whereby on January 9, 2018 at unknown place, with intent to defraud, jointly with others and without lawful authority, made a fake a tender document dated January 9 for the supply of 1200 laptops to State House.
Mr. Muhanji was also charged with forgery, contrary to Section 345 of the Penal Code.
The Chief Magistrate said that determination on his bond will be heard on December 19.