The gruesome killing of National Lands Commission communications director Jennifer Wambua has accidentally brought to the fore a money-minting racket involving big fish at the agency. Detectives following the murder are now focusing on a new assignment, suspicious money trail, after it emerged that millions of shillings from the commission’s account were abnormally wired into the account of the deceased.
The late Jennifer Wambua
Directors and other top officials at the agency are said to be in panic mode as investigators cast their net wider in a bid to come up with a clear picture in what appears to be a deep seated scandal at the agency. Among those who have been grilled in the new twist is the acting finance director Bernard Cherutich who by virtue of his position was compelled to explain why the commission was sending large amounts of money to Wambua’s personal bank account. Prior to her shocking death, Wambua had received two tranches of cash including Sh6m and Sh2.7 million and withdrew Sh2 million on March 11, a day before she disappeared. Also caught in the simmering corruption saga is the commission’s acting CEO Kabale Tache, who ordinarily is in the position to monitor happenings at the agency and most importantly money trail, just like in this scenario where millions of shillings were moved to Wambua’s account.
Kabale Tache
It is said, Kabale and Cherutich are cutting deals at NLC. The revelation is believed to be perpetrated by a group of protected cartels within the organisation who must be banking on the absence of the board chairman Gershom Otachi, to dubiously enrich themselves at the expense of taxpayers. Sources told Weekly Citizen that another potential wave of raids by detectives targeting those exposed in the looting spree is likely to shock the nation as it could trap the who is who at the commission. As a pointer of a wide network involving outsiders, investigators have turned their attention to a pastor who was receiving millions of shillings from Wambua in the months leading to her murder. It is suspected the pastor disappeared with the loot that was to be shared among the NLC cartel leading to Wambua falling into depression. The pastor is now a key suspect. He had a long phone call with Wambua hours before her death.
Amos Kasaine
Other directors are Amos Kasaine (ICT Unit), Peter Ochuodho (head of internal audit risk management), Cyrus Nyagah (supply chain and management) and Mercy Njamweya who is in charge of land administration and management. As the head of the ICT Unit, Kasaine is responsible for the management, strategy and execution of ICT infrastructure and this includes implementation of technical projects as well as disaster recovery systems and processes. On the other hand Cherutich, who has since been grilled, is responsible for the finance and administration functions including advising the commission, the CEO and management on financial matters. As for Ochuodho, his responsibility is to provide innovative risk, audit, and assurance to improve the commission’s operations.
Mercy Njamweya
Ben Bett is the director Human Resource and Administration with an integral responsibility to ensure the commission attracts and retains professionals. Investigations are now narrowing at NLC how the acting CEO Kabale and Cherutich, having been facilitating withdrawal of huge amounts of money to private accounts with no goods supplied. Sources say, witch-hunting and infighting has taken centre-stage at NLC with top managers and commissioners leaking information to fix each other. Kabale and Cherutich are new millionaires at NLC. The cartel, which operated during the tenure of Mohammed Swazuri, is back in control with the CEO’s blessings.
There's no story that cannot be told. We cover the stories that others don't want to be told, we bring you all the news you need. If you have tips, exposes or any story you need to be told bluntly and all queries write to us [email protected] also find us on Telegram
