Former IEBC boss Oswago, co-accused fined Ksh7.5m
Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chief executive James Oswago and his deputy Wilson Shollei were yesterday jailed for four years or a fine of Sh7.5 million each after they were found guilty of irregularly awarding a Sh1.3 billion tender supply of voter materials in 2013 General Election.
In his lengthy judgment, Chief magistrate Felix Kombo of Milimani Anti-Corruption Court said that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that Oswago and Shollei failed to comply with the law relating to procurement when they procured electronic voter identification devices for the March 4, 2013, General Election.
“After analysis of evidence adduced before the court by prosecution witnesses I find that the two accused persons were not faithful in the procurement of election material,” said the magistrate.
In 2013, Oswago and Shollei were charged with failing to comply with the law relating to procurement.
The two were accused of failing to ensure that changes made to the contract, which was awarded to Face Technologies Limited by the IEBC for the supply of Electronic Voter Identification, were approved by the commission’s tender committee.
Oswago and Shollei had been also accused of using their offices to improperly confer a benefit on Face Technologies Limited by approving payment of Sh1.4 billion for the supply of voter materials without ascertaining that the devices supplied were inspected, accepted and met the technical specifications in the contract.
While passing sentence, Kombo ordered Oswago and Shollei to pay a fine of Sh 7.5 million each in total or sever four years each in jail for committing the two offences against them. The magistrate gave them 14 days to appeal if so wishes. During the defence hearing, Oswago had blamed subordinate staff over corruption at the agency.
