Former Samburu Governor Moses Lenolkulal has escaped an 8 year sentence behind bars after High Court acquitted him in a KSH 84 million graft case.
The Ex-Samburu Governor conviction was overturned by what the court said was failure by the state to provide enough evidence against him.
Lenolkulal was accused of conducting business with the government which is against the conflict of interest. That, during his tenure,a company associated with him,Oryx Service Station, was awarded contracts to supply fuel to the Samburu County Government.
Lenolkulal was accused of benefiting from the contract via his proxy,businessman Hesbon Jack Wachira Ndathi.
While delivering his ruling,Justice B.M. Musyoki found there were no direct benefits that the former governor benefitted from the fuel supply contact.
“It is my finding that the element of control, actual ownership, and management of Oryx was not proved beyond a reasonable doubt. I therefore find that the count for conflict of interest was not proved.”
In the evidence provided during the appeal, the court found that there was no profit sharing deal despite Lenolkulal leasing out his Oryx Service Station to Ndathi for a monthly rent of KSH 70,000 payable quarterly.
The two were initially found guilty of receiving millions from the county government and were fined KSh 83.4 million each or serve an additional four years in prison.
Moses Lenolkulal Escapes 8 years in Jail
