National Government Constituency Development Fund (NG-CDF) employees and owners of companies appeared before a Nyahururu court on Wednesday May 8, 2024 where they were charged with corruption offenses involving Ksh55.8 million meant for roads projects in Ol Kalou constituency, Nyandarua County.
They denied all the charges leveled against them before they were released on Ksh2 million cash bail for each or bond of Sh5 million with surety of similar amount.
Defense lawyers led by David Mathea and Levi Munyeri later termed the hefty bail terms as a disaster.
“These are people of modest means and it will be difficult for them to meet those bond terms. Two of the accused are a couple and raising four million will not be easy,” said Mathea.
Justice Stephen Mogute disregarded defense’s plea for the accused to be given lenient bond terms equivalent to Ksh50,000 police cash bond they were given after being arrested.
“Bond terms are meant to ensure accused persons attend court,” Mogute said. He advised the accused to hand over the police cash bond to their lawyers for safe keeping.
They were ushered into the court cells awaiting to be taken to Nyahururu prison as they could not meet the bond terms immediately.
The accused include CDF chairman John Kariuki, Simon Nduati and Ludovik Ng’era who are members of the CDF Roads Project committee.
Others are director of Spenroh International Limited, Jerusha Waitera, Samuel Ngugi (director Rodney Enterprises), Peter Mburu who is owner of Design Jet Copiers, Charles Chuaga Ndung’u of Wheel Enterprise, Florence Wairimu owner of Wheel Safety Enterprise, Janerose Muthoni and Dominc Mulwa Kasina both directors of Laurenzo Enterprise.
They denied corruption charges involving Sh55.8 million meant for road projects in Ol Kalou constituency that had been sent to the CDF bank account between May 2014 and October 2018.
The case will be mentioned on May 23, 2024.