CAPTION: KERRA Coast Regional Manager, Engineer Benson Muteti Masila
A senior official at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) has seen his assets with an estimated worth of Sh1Bn frozen by the High Court pending the determination of a case filed by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption (EACC) Commission.
Through orders issued on Thursday, 4th February 2022, Justice Esther Maina gave a green light for the corruption watchdog to temporarily withhold the wealth worth about Sh952 million from KERRA Coast Regional Manager, Engineer Benson Muteti Masila, until his case is determined.
Mr Muteti faces heavy accusations of accumulating cash by negotiating illegal kickbacks and bribes from greedy contractors.
According to documents presented to the court by EACC, Muteti’s empire consists of multiple properties, business companies, investments in the education sector.
The properties include seven apartments, eight commercial and residential plots, two schools – Mumbe Junior Academy and Mumbe Girls High School.
On top of that, he holds shares estimated to be worth over Sh2.24 million, four vehicles and a hard. ware store worth Sh1 million.
As per Justice Maina’s injunctions, Muteti is prohibited from accessing funds anointing to Sh567.63 million in 22 bank accounts held at KCB, Cooperative Bank, National Bank of Kenya and Absa Bank.
The engineer is also officially restrained from selling, transfer changing, leasing or developing any of the properties listed above.
When arguing their case in court, EACC officials explained that they found it difficult to understand how Mr Muteti managed to amass so much money in his bank accounts and set up big real estate projects in Nairobi, Makueni and Kilifi counties with only a monthly salary of Sh 390k.
“Investigations were conducted and it was established that he owned assets hugely disproportionate to his known legitimate source of income,” the agency said through their lawyer through Lawyer Pius Nyoike.
Records show that Muteti joined KERRA in 2009 and reached billionaire status by the year 2018.
His total pay, according to court documents, should not have exceeded Sh136 million for the period totalling 9 years.
From data collected by EACC, frequent deposits were made into Muteti’s various bank accounts at KCB, Cooperative Bank, NBK and Absa Bank, during that time.
The rogue KERRA manager is also accused of awarding himself contracts through many shell companies, which is contrary to Kenya’s procurement laws.
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