Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has recommended the prosecution of key officials at the National Museum of Kenya (NMK). The investigation, now concluded, has unearthed a scandal that saw 105 ghost workers added to the payroll between 2016 and 2022.
The ghost workers were paid a gross salary of between Ksh.88,000 and Ksh.95,000, and they were also able to access loan facilities from a specific bank. They later handed over the borrowed amount to NMK officials, and for their troubles, they were given between Ksh.100k to Ksh.200k as appreciation. In total, the illegal activities cost the taxpayer a total of KSh 491.4 million during the period under investigation. The EACC now wants the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge former director general for the National Museum of Kenya Mzalendo Kibunjia, Stanyas Ongalo, Human Resource Director and Acting Director General Oliver Rabuor, and Wycliffe Ongata.
NMK officials will also be charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit an offence of economic crime contrary to section 47A (3) as read with section 48 of Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act No.3 of 2003 and two counts of abuse of office contrary to section 46.
EACC further asked the ODPP to consider two counts of acquisition of proceeds of crime and one count of money laundering contrary to section 16 of the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2009. “Additionally, they are supposed to face two counts of Financial Misconduct under section 199 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012,” the EACC report read in parts.
By Abigael Chemok