Bomas of Kenya CEO Peter Gitaa Koria has been freed on a Ksh1 million cash bail after denying eight corruption charges relating to the misappropriation of public funds amounting to Ksh8.5 Million.
Milimani Chief Anti-Corruption Magistrate Thomas Nzyoki also granted Gitaa an alternative bond of Ksh5 million and a surety of a similar amount after he pleaded not guilty to charges of willful failure to comply with the law relating to procurement over a multi-million kitchen utensils tender.
While releasing the CEO on bond terms, Magistrate Nzyoki ordered him to deposit his travel documents and warned him not to interfere with witnesses.
Further, the court barred Gitaa from leaving Kenya’s jurisdiction without its permission.
Gitaa, who was on April 26, 2024, arrested by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives, is accused of intentionally flouting the law relating to procurement.
The prosecution informed the court that the CEO engaged in a procurement process without an approved budget in relation to several tenders during the 2020/2021 financial year.
"Between December 29, 2020 and June 30, 2021, within Nairobi City County in the Republic of Kenya, being the Chief Executive Officer and the Accounting Officer of a public body being Bomas of Kenya Ltd, Gitaa willfully failed to comply with the law relating to procurement to wit; Section 44 (2) (a) of the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015 by engaging in a procurement process without an approved budget in relation to Quotation 15 Kitchen Items; Quotation 16 Utensils: Quotation 17 Kitchen items, Quotation 18 Plates & cups and Quotation 19 Cutlery & other items during the financial year 2020/2021," The charge sheet states.
His arrest and prosecution come days after the Employment and Labour Relations Court (ELRC) reinstated Gitaa who had been on a 12-month suspension pending the conclusion of investigations into procurement irregularities in supplies for the institution.
Justice Mathews Nderi Nduma of the ELRC recently granted a mandatory injunction directing the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage and Chairperson, Board of Bomas of Kenya to unconditionally lift his suspension from employment and immediately reinstate him, pending the hearing and determination of his petition.
Gitaa had been part of the six senior officers whose suspension Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Kosgei ordered, on the recommendation of EACC, on November 16 2023 for alleged involvement in corruption and procurement irregularities within their respective institutions.
