By Wilfridah Murenga
The Supreme Court has given the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) the green light to seize assets belonging to former Nairobi County Chief Finance Officer Jimmy Kiamba worth Ksh 614 million.
The ruling was delivered by a five-judge bench on Thursday, 23 May 2024, which included Justices Mohamed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndung’u, Isaac Lenaola and William Ouko.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has taken action to confiscate seven high-end properties located in the upscale areas of Runda, Dennis Pritt Road, and South C in Nairobi, with a total estimated market worth exceeding Ksh 500 million.
Furthermore, a substantial amount of Ksh. 113,893,74 which was held in multiple bank accounts that are associated with Kiamba, his spouse and associates has been seized.
“Following successful litigation at the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, EACC has moved to seize Seven (7) prime properties in Runda, Dennis Pritt Road and South C in Nairobi, with an estimated market value of over Kes.500,000,000 and Kes.113,893,743 held in various bank accounts, belonging to former Nairobi County Chief Finance Officer Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba, his wife and associates,” said EACC in a statement.
The Court’s ruling affirms the EACC’s assertion that these assets represent unexplained wealth and are likely the proceeds of corruption within the Nairobi County Government during Kiamba’s tenure as Chief Finance Officer.
As a result, the court ordered that all the seized assets be forfeited to the Government of Kenya.
“We hereby order and direct that the appellants do jointly and severally pay or forfeit to the Government of Kenya the sum of Kshs.113,893,743, being the unexplained cash in their bank accounts,” read the ruling in part.
“We further order and direct the payment by the appellants of the current market value of the assets listed in Paragraph b above or forfeiture in lieu of payment to the Government of Kenya of the current value of the said assets forthwith,” read the ruling.