NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 24 – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has intensified its crackdown on procurement-related corruption after arraigning the director of a private security firm accused of fraudulently securing and benefiting from a Sh5.4 million public contract at Keroka Technical Training Institute.

Gilbert Momanyi Maturwe, a director of Gimo Security and Investigation Services Limited, appeared before the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Kisii on Tuesday to face multiple charges linked to the award and execution of a security services tender at the institution.

According to the EACC, investigations revealed that the company was awarded a contract worth Sh257,000 per month to provide security services for two financial years, translating to a total contract value of Sh5,448,000.

However, investigators established that despite deploying fewer security guards than stipulated in the contract, the company allegedly continued to receive full monthly payments, resulting in the suspected fraudulent acquisition of public funds.

The anti-graft agency further uncovered alleged irregularities during the tendering process after determining that a Tax Compliance Certificate submitted by the company was falsified and did not originate from the Kenya Revenue Authority’s system.

Following the completion of investigations, the EACC forwarded its findings to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges against Maturwe, including procurement fraud, uttering a false document, and fraudulent acquisition of public property.

The prosecution argues that the accused unlawfully benefited from the contract through misrepresentation and the submission of fraudulent documentation during the procurement process.

Maturwe denied all charges when he appeared in court and entered a plea of not guilty.

The court released him on a cash bail of Sh1 million or an alternative bond of Sh2 million with two sureties of a similar amount.

As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered the accused to surrender his passport pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The matter is scheduled for mention on July 6, 2026, when the court is expected to issue further directions on the hearing of the case.