DPP clears Auditor General Edward Ouko over abuse of office claims

By Beth Nyaga

Director of Public Prosecutions DPP Keriako Tobiko has cleared Auditor General Edward Ouko of charges of abuse of office and conspiracy to commit economic crimes recommended by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Tobiko has however recommended at least seven charges against Ouko’s deputy Stephen Kinuthia including receiving 27 million shillings from proceeds of a 100 million shilling tender.

Kinuthia is also facing corruption charges for corruptly giving a benefit of half a million shillings to Charles Gichobi a sales executive of Oracle Kenya.

Two other officials heading the ICT department in the office of Auditor General will be prosecuted for conspiracy to commit economic crimes.

The EACC had recommended abuse of office charges against the Auditor General for engaging in irregular procurement of an audit vault software.

The EACC investigations were triggered by a letter from the Principal Secretary National Treasury dated 8th April 2014 forwarding anonymous complaints raising several allegations against the office of the Auditor General.