Garissa county officials, supplier charged over Sh51.4 million graft scheme

The complainant is the Republic of Kenya through the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Three Garissa county officials and a private company have been charged with corruption and forgery offences involving Sh51,495,253 allegedly paid for goods and services that were never supplied.

The complainant is the Republic of Kenya through the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

The accused persons were arraigned before the Magistrate's Court Garissa, on Monday, February 23, 2026.

According to the charge sheet prepared by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdi Ibrahim Daar, the Social Development Officer and Director of Qorjarey Enterprise and General Supplies limited, Mohamud Dubow Korane, then Director Accounting Services – Garissa County Government, and Yusuf Bethe Ali, then Senior Principal Economist – Garissa county government, jointly face the first count of conspiracy to commit an offence of corruption contrary to Section 47A(3) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, Cap 65.

The prosecution led by PC Evans Kazungu alleges that between April 5, 2022 and June 30, 2022, the trio conspired to commit an offence of corruption by facilitating the fraudulent transfer of Sh51,495 253 from Garissa county government to Qorjarey Enterprise and General Supplies Limited for goods and services that were never procured nor supplied.

Daar and Qorjarey Enterprise and General Supplies Limited face Count II of fraudulent acquisition of public property contrary to Section 45(1)(a) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

It is alleged that between April 7, 2022 and June 30, 2022, they fraudulently acquired public property, to with a sum of Sh 51,495,253 for undelivered goods and services.

Korane faces five separate counts of abuse of office contrary to Section 46 as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.

In Count III, it is alleged that between April 6, 2022 and April 7, 2022, he used his office to improperly confer a benefit by approving payment of Sh14,528,968.

Count IV relates to April 14, 2022, to April 19, 2022 and approval of Sh8,300,468.00. Count V concerns May 4, 2022, to May 5, 2022 and Sh4,804,568.00.

Count VI covers June 28, 2022, to June 30, 2022 and Sh10,880,658.00, while Count VII relates to the same period and Sh12,980,854.00.

In each instance, the charge sheet states the payments were for goods “that were never procured… nor supplied.”

Ali similarly faces five counts of abuse of office under Section 46 as read with Section 48.

On April 6, 2022, he allegedly raised an IFMIS invoice for Sh14,528,968; on April 14, 2022, for Sh8,300,468.00; on May 4, 2022, for Sh4,804,568; on June 28, 2022, for Sh10,880,658; and on June 29, 2022, for Sh12,980,854.

In each case, the charge sheet states he “used your office to improperly confer a benefit… by raising an invoice… thereby facilitating payment for goods and services that were never procured… nor supplied.”

Daar alone faces multiple forgery and uttering false statement charges under the Penal Code.

Under Section 345 as read with Section 349, he is accused in Count XIII of making a false letter of acceptance of award, dated September 14, 2021, for the supply of emergency food items to Balambala subcounty, Garissa county, for Sh14,528,968.

In Count XIV, under Section 353 as read with Section 349, he is accused of uttering to the National Bank of Kenya on April 7, 2022, false documents, including a payment voucher for Sh14,258,968 in support of the payment of Sh14,528,968.

Further forgery counts relate to a letter of acceptance dated October 13, 2021 for Sh4,804,568.00 (Count XV); an acceptance dated September 29, 2021 for Sh10,880,658 (Count XVII); an acceptance letter dated August 30, 2021 for Sh12,980,854.00 (Count XIX); and an acceptance letter dated October 19, 2021 for Sh8,500,000 (Count XXI), all allegedly made with intent to defraud.

Corresponding uttering charges (Counts XVI, XVIII, XX and XXII) allege that between May 9, 2022 and July 1, 2022, he knowingly presented forged payment vouchers and tender documents to National Bank of Kenya Ltd and ABSA Bank Ltd in support of payments ranging from Sh4,804,568 to Sh12,980,854.

Korane also faces five forgery counts under Section 345 as read with Section 349 of the Penal Code.

On or about March 29, 2022, he allegedly made a payment voucher for Sh14,258,968.

On April 29, 2022, he allegedly made a voucher for Sh4,804,568; on May 24, 2022, for Sh10,880,658; on June 15, 2022, for Sh12,980,854; and on April 5, 2022, for Sh8,300,468, each “purporting to be a genuine document issued by the County Government of Garissa.”

The case is expected to be mentioned before the Magistrate’s Court in Garissa county on February 23, 2026.