Najib Balala, the former cabinet secretary tourism, was taken into custody by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission detectives on Thursday. The CS, who worked for the former administration of President Uhuru Kenyatta, is detained on allegations of corruption.
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Why Najib Balala, former Cabinet Secretary Tourism was arrested
Balala is held accountable for an erroneous Ksh8.5 billion payment that was intended to finance the building of Utalii College in Kilifi County. The former CS was picked up in Nairobi on Thursday evening and spent the night at Kilimani Police Station, according to EACC Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi.
Today, he is scheduled to travel to Malindi, where he is anticipated to enter a plea in the Malindi Law Courts.
“We arrested him yesterday and he spent the night at Kilimani. He is being transported to Malindi. He will be charged before Malindi Courts,” Ngumbi said.
Who was he arrested with?
Balala was detained with three other people: a managing partner at an engineering firm, Leah Adda Gwiyo, the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism.
“Investigations were undertaken by the commission regarding the irregular payment of Ksh8.5B by the Tourism Fund out of which KSh4 billion was paid to Baseline Architects Ltd for consultancy services for the proposed Ronald Ngala Utalii College in Vipingo, Kilifi county,” Ngumbi revealed.
As of December 2022, the institution was 77.74 percent, according to the Tourism Fund website. Additionally, 3,000 students on campus are expected to graduate each year.
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The institution was established under the administration of the late President Daniel Arap Moi and approved under President Mwai Kibaki, as previously disclosed by former Interior PS Karanja Kibicho.
However, after Uhuru took office, the project’s construction was completed under the Jubilee administration. Balala and the co-accused are being prosecuted on over ten counts pertaining to the project.
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