Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal Found Guilty of Sh84 Million Corruption Scandal

NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal has been found guilty of corruption of embezzling Sh84 Million.

Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki delivered the verdict, confirming that Lenolkulal corruptly received Sh84 million for the supply of petroleum products to the county government during his tenure as governor.

The court established, based on compelling evidence presented by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), that Lenolkulal and his associate, Hesbon Ndathi, were the primary beneficiaries of the misappropriated public funds.

Magistrate Nzyoki emphasized that the evidence, including over 200 payment vouchers and Local Purchase Orders (LPOs), demonstrated Lenolkulal’s direct financial dealings with the county.

“The evidence reveals a clear conflict of interest,” Magistrate Nzyoki stated. “As governor, Lenolkulal compromised his integrity by engaging in transactions with the county government, which is strictly prohibited by law.”

The court found that Lenolkulal’s private interests in Oryx Service Station directly led to the county’s financial losses.

The magistrate criticized the role of the county secretary, who, despite being aware of Lenolkulal’s ownership of Oryx, approved payments to the company.

“The county secretary’s actions, coupled with false statements from the accounting office, facilitated the fraudulent payments,” Nzyoki remarked. “Such conduct undermines the principles of good governance.”

The case, initially filed in 2019, centered on charges of abuse of office and conflict of interest, alleging that Lenolkulal used his company to supply fuel to the county in which he served.

The prosecution, led by Wesley Namache, presented a case that underscored the gravity of the corruption.

EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi hailed the verdict as a historic moment in the fight against corruption.

“This ruling is monumental, marking the first criminal conviction of a governor for corruption. Despite earlier attempts by the DPP to withdraw the case, justice has prevailed,” he stated.

Ngumbi also noted that a separate civil suit filed by the EACC has successfully recovered the funds paid to Lenolkulal’s company.