6 Kenyan port authority officials charged in $380 million graft case

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Six senior officials from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) were slapped with corruption charges Wednesday in a Mombasa court in a move with potential ramifications for East Africa's trade lifeline.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) alleges that the officials siphoned 62 million Kenyan shillings ($380 million) through fraudulent procurement practices affecting the credibility of the vital Mombasa port.

The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) plays a vital role as the gatekeeper of the Mombasa port – a strategic maritime hub that serves as a lifeline for many landlocked countries in the region.

The officials are part of a group of nine who are accused of corruption among other charges.

EACC detectives in Mombasa, located 487 kilometers (303 miles) southeast of the national capital of Nairobi, spearheaded the arrests, following an investigation into the alleged scheme.

"Investigations established that the suspects executed a fraudulent scheme to embezzle public funds through a tender awarded to a company linked to them," EACC said in a statement.

The officials are facing a barrage of accusations, including graft, money laundering, fraudulent acquisition of public property, forgery, obtaining a contract from a public institution through pretenses and presenting falsified documents to state officials.

The accused have denied all charges.

Kenyan President William Ruto vowed to tackle corruption which is prevalent in Kenya, noting that not a single shilling will be lost through corruption.

He emphasized that all taxes collected by the state shall be put to their intended use.