Kenya: 24 accused of defrauding government of $100M

By Magdalene Mukami

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Twenty-four out of 54 suspects accused of taking part in one of the worst corruption scandals in Kenyan history were arraigned on Tuesday in court and charged.

They stand accused of taking part in the theft of 9 billion Kenya shillings (roughly $100 million) from the National Youth Service (NYS).

The charges read to the suspects -- including Youth Affairs Principal Secretary in the Public Service Ministry Lilian Omollo and NYS Director General Richard Ndubai -- included corruption, fraud, and abuse of office. All the accused denied the charges.

Among those implicated are top politicians, company heads, and businesspeople who were allegedly paid millions of dollars for supplying nothing to the National Youth Service.

Kenya’s Criminal Investigations Directorate says six Kenyan banks were implicated in the scandal after it emerged that some accounts were created hours before millions in allegedly stolen money was sent to the accounts.

In a statement, Kenyan leader Uhuru Kenyatta -- whose administration has been dogged by corruption allegations -- vowed to deal firmly and decisively with all unethical people caught in the web of corruption.