Lenolkulal, who becomes the first former governor to be convicted in an anti-corruption case, was in 2019 charged with abuse of office and graft-related counts in relation to a Ksh84 million Oryx Filling Station scandal
Moses Lenolkulal, a former two-time Governor of Samburu, has been found guilty by the Anti-Corruption Court in Milimani alongside 12 others.
Lenolkulal, who becomes the first former governor to be convicted in an anti-corruption case, was in 2019 charged with abuse of office and graft-related counts in relation to a Ksh84 million Oryx Filling Station scandal, where he, as the owner, supplied his own county, leading to conflict and abuse of office.
Trial Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki ruled on Wednesday, August 28 that from the evidence produced in court by the ODPP, there is no doubt that Lenolkulal and his proxy Hesbon Ndathi were the ultimate beneficiaries of the public funds.
He found overwhelming evidence that Lenolkulal being the governor of Samburu at the time the offences were said to have been committed acted in a conflict of interest.
The magistrate relied on over 200 payment vouchers and lpos as evidence of Lenolkulal’s direct trading with the county, adding that his integrity was compromised by private interest.
“A public officers must taken keen interest in the affairs of his office. They should always adhere to principles of good governance. In law a governor stands prohibited from trading with his county government,” said Nzyuki.
More to follow…