Ex-NGO Chief Holds Late Ole Ntimama Responsible for Misappropriation of Sh12m Donor Funds
The ex-chairperson of the National Council of Non-Governmental Organisations, who is facing accusations of embezzling 11.79 million Kenyan Shillings from donated funds, has pointed to the now-deceased cabinet minister, William Ole Ntimama, as the cause of his present difficulties.
During his official testimony in front of Magistrate Ben Mark Enkubi at Milimani, Simon Sagana Kanani asserted that the deceased leader of the Maa community had the desire for a representative from their own community to lead the organization.
Dr. Kanani refuted allegations of embezzling a sum of Sh11,793,453 from the organization. Instead, he alleged that Ntimama and a former Permanent Secretary orchestrated a plot to forcibly remove him from his position as the chairman of the NGO entity in Kenya.
Dr. Kanani, who took over the leadership from the late One Rogo Manduli, said “A coup was staged in a nefarious plot to oust me”.
Defended by Elisha Ongoya and questioned by prosecutor Virginia Kariuki, Dr. Kanani maintained during the trial that no funds were embezzled, as all expenditures had received approval from the board.
Dr. Kanani, along with attorney Lucas Chacha Matiko, who previously served as the organization’s treasurer, and Philip Chris Obure, the chairman of an aviation firm, are all facing legal action.
In their affidavits, Kanani, Matiko, and Obure told the magistrate that they “ran the organization in a highly professional manner, which attracted substantial donor funding”.
The judge was informed that the deceased minister was garnering backing for David Ole Konchellah to assume control of the leadership of the National Council of NGOs.
Mr. Enkubi learned that Ole Ntimama supported the idea of replacing the entire governing body of the National Council of NGOs.
During his testimony in court, a prosecution witness named Cheruiyot Nyoros admitted that a plot had been planned to oust Dr. Kanani and the complete board of the non-governmental organization (NGO) that supervises more than 6,000 different organizations.
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“Do you remember a prosecution witness, Simon Cheruiyot Nyoros, testifying in court that he refused to implicate you because you were not from the Maa community?” asked Prof Ongoya as he led Dr. Kanani in his defense.
“Yes, I vividly remember Nyoros saying that he refused to be drawn into the nefarious plot to bring me down and remove me from office because I was not from the Maa community,” Dr Kanani replied.
Matiko and Obure reiterated the identical accusations, asserting that those opposing Dr. Kanani’s leadership aimed to oust them from their positions using any means necessary.
The defendant, who rejected allegations of theft and participating in a scheme to deceive NGOs, informed the court that they were falsely incriminated. They stated that all the funds received to support the non-governmental organizations were appropriately utilized nationwide.
“We have done nothing wrong. We were arrested and charged with theft and conspiracy to commit fraud. There is no evidence to prove the cases against us, free us,” Sagana, Matiko, and Obure urged Mr. Enkubi.
Mr. Enkubi was informed that the matter was looked into by a police officer called Ole Sunkuli, who didn’t even go to the premises of the NGO Council for investigation.
The judge also learned that the police officer gathered checks purportedly bearing the signatures of Dr. Kanani and Matiko from a nearby bank.
The judge also received the registration document of Beacom Booksellers, a company located in Migori. It was claimed that this company didn’t actually exist and had engaged in transactions with the NGO council.
Kanani, Matiko, and Obure have been charged with the theft of Sh11,793,453 from the National Council of Non-Governmental Organizations on different occasions spanning from September 12, 2008, to June 29, 2009.
They’ve also refuted allegations of plotting to deceive the Council of NGOs by fabricating false network gatherings and workshops throughout the nation.
They faced allegations asserting that the sum of Sh11.7 million had been distributed to members as allowances and lodging expenses.
Ex-NGO Chief Holds Late Ole Ntimama Responsible for Misappropriation of Sh12m Donor Funds
