Economy

Ojaamong blameless in Sh8m fraud suit, witness tells court

ojamong

Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong. FILE PHOTO | NMG

An executive in the Busia county government has absolved Governor Sospeter Ojaamong from blame in the Sh8 million fraud solid waste management project, saying it was discussed and adopted.

Ms Grace Matinde Mchuma, the Executive Committee Member for Community Development, Sports, Culture and Social Services, told anti-graft court Monday that it was resolved that a Germany company, Madam R Enterprise Limited, be picked to carry out the feasibility study on solid waste management.

Ms Mchuma, who has been blind since the age of three told anti-corruption court chief magistrate Mr Douglas Ogoti that former finance minister Bernard Yaite tabled the issue of solid waste during an executive meeting.

“I do recall Mr Yaite presented the issue of solid waste, which was discussed fully and it was adopted where Ms Madam R Enterprises Ltd of Germany was picked for the job,” Ms Mchuma answered defence lawyer Dunstan Omari during cross-examination.

Ms Mchuma also denied signing a witness since it was not done with the required gadgets for the blind.

She told Mr Ogoti that a statement was written by the Ethic and Anti-Corruption Commission Investigators (EACC) who then read out what they had recorded.

“But as far as you are concerned the executive committee endorsed that a company be sought to carry out a feasibility study on solid waste management?” Mr Omari asked the witness.

“Yes I remember the agenda was passed and minuted,” Ms Mchuma responded.

Ms Mchuma was testifying in a case where Mr Ojaamong is charged alongside Mr Yaite, chief finance officer Leonard Obimbira, head of treasury accounting Samuel Ombui, Allan Omachari and Edna Odhiambo.

The charges against them state that on diverse dates between March 15 and September 25,2014 they conspired to defraud the Busia county government of Sh8 million by entering into an agreement for a feasibility study on solid waste management to be conducted.

Hearing continues.