A government official whose bank accounts were frozen having Ksh 21 million now says he cannot afford a meal, money to pay dowry and his loans.
Daniel Munywoki Wambua, a suspended junior accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority(KERRA) has told the High Court that since the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission froze his accounts, he has been subject to stress as he has been living from hand-to-mouth and unable to pay for his daily expenses, service loans, the service providers, pay a dowry for his wife as well as his lawyer.
In a 13-page Affidavit filed in court, Wambua says since he was suspended from work he has been subjected to financial distress and seeks the court's intervention.
“The EACC’s malicious acts have led to my suspension at my workplace and as such, I have been subjected to great turmoil and financial distress,” Wambua stated in the affidavit.
The KERRA officials say that the singular intent for establishing this account was to accumulate funds earmarked for the dowry payment.
Through his lawyer Danstan Omari, Wambua says that the frozen funds were designated to settle all financial obligations related to the dowry payment and the broader ceremony.
"I wish to retaliate that the money held in the said accounts was acquired through contributions from business, friends, family, and colleagues. I have also adduced WhatsApp screenshots showing a list of the persons who contributed towards my dowry payment event and bank statements showing that any monies credited to the accounts were from legitimate sources," Wambua says.
The government officials have adduced evidence in court showing that he is experiencing undue hardships and suffering as the service providers for the dowey payment event should have been paid on or before August 21, 2023.
"The contributions made were for purposes of ensuring the dowry ceremony went well in as far as payment of the dowry and services provided on that particular day," he adds While asking the court to set aside the freeze orders and have his Ksh 21 million held to be released, Wambua also argues that he is in several chama groups where they contribute towards each member’s events when the need arises and they also extend the courtesy.
Further, he says that his reputation has been tarnished, as he has been unjustly depicted as untrustworthy in the eyes of his in-laws.
“The application freezing my accounts was vexatious, malicious, ill-informed, ill-willed and unfounded,” he says.
According to Wambua, his friends and family members have made several deposits into his frozen bank accounts on diverse dates including June 9, 2023, which was the official launch. The official adds that the money collected in cash amounting to Ksh 917,000 for the event was deposited in the ensuing event was successful.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) obtained High Court orders freezing over Ksh.21 million held in three bank accounts held by Wambua.
Wambua, a junior Accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), is said to have amassed a total of Ksh.21,189,125 in four months.
The commission is investigating allegations that he accumulated this wealth, which it says is way beyond his known legitimate sources of income, through corrupt dealings.
