Stephen Ogenga, the Director General of the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), finds himself entangled in a legal web along with three others, as they face charges in the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court, accused of orchestrating a corruption scandal exceeding sh.14 million.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the allegations against Ogenga stem from a period between January 31, 2019, and March 29, 2019.
During this time frame, he purportedly authorized irregular payments totaling sh.4.8 million to Xponics Limited.
These payments were supposedly for a gamut of services including supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, service, maintenance, and repair of sewing and training machines.
In a separate but related development, Xponics Limited, along with individuals James Waweru and Sheila Wambui Nyakinyua, stands accused of fraudulent activities.
The court was informed that they allegedly acquired sh.10.18 million through the presentation of a falsified bid, enabling them to unfairly secure a supply tender spanning from December 31, 2016, to June 20, 2018.
During the court proceedings presided over by Hon. Zipporah Gichana, all accused parties entered pleas of not guilty.
ODPP disclosed that they were granted bail in the sum of 3 million each, with a requirement for a surety of similar value, or an alternative cash bail set at sh.1 million each.
Additionally, they were instructed to surrender their passports to the court registry and refrain from any attempts to interfere with witnesses.
Former NITA Director General, Paul Kipsang Kosgei, was also implicated in the affair.
He was directed to appear in court on Wednesday, June for plea taking, adding another layer of complexity to the legal proceedings.
The case is slated for pre-trial on June 19, 2024, marking the beginning of what promises to be a protracted legal battle in the ongoing fight against corruption within the nation’s institutions.