Five government officials charged over Sh11.5m loss at Chebororwa college

The suspects (from left) Nicholas Kiprop Kaino, Alison Odera Mukangula, Stephen Kiprotich Kurtebe, Marrion Paulyne Dome and Bermard Absolom Sanya.

Five government officials formerly attached to Chebororwa Farmers Training College in Uasin Gishu have been charged over alleged loss of Sh11.5 million from the institution.

The case was scheduled for hearing before Principal Magistrate Kimani Mukabi but was postponed to June 30, 2026, after the defence lawyer was absent and one of the accused said he was not ready to proceed.

The accused are Nicholas Kiprop Kaino, Alison Odera Mukangula, Stephen Kiprotich Kurtebe, Marrion Paulyne Dome and Bernard Absolom Sanya.

They have denied 18 counts, including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, abuse of office and unlawful acquisition of public property.

According to the charge sheet, the five are accused of conspiring between February 23, 2017, and May 19, 2017, at Kapsowar Township in Elgeyo Marakwet county, to fraudulently acquire Sh11,493,000 from Chebororwa Agricultural Training Centre’s account at KCB Bank, Kapsowar branch.

Kaino and Mukangula face additional charges of abuse of office.

Prosecutors allege that, in their capacities as an Agribusiness and Land Development officer at the County Government of Uasin Gishu and Marakwet subcounty accountant at the National Treasury, respectively, they improperly authorised payments totalling Sh4.2 million for the benefit of Kaino.

The two are also accused of facilitating further payments amounting to Sh2.83 million to Rotkan Investments, a business linked to Kaino, and Sh1.6 million to Forgill Agencies, allegedly without lawful justification.

Kurtebe, who was a cashier seconded to the National Treasury and stationed at Marakwet West subcounty, is separately accused of abusing his office by authorising Sh1.4 million to Wagabi Enterprises, associated with Dome and Sanya.

Prosecutors further allege that Kaino fraudulently received Sh2.8 million from the college through cheques issued to Rotkan Investments.

All the charges relate to funds allegedly siphoned from the farmers’ training college, an institution owned by the County Government of Uasin Gishu.

The prosecution team from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, led by Gitonga Waweru, urged the court to prioritise the matter, saying repeated adjournments had delayed the case.

“This hearing has taken too long and we urge the court to give it priority so that it is heard and concluded,” Waweru said, arguing that the case is of public interest because it involves public funds.

Magistrate Mukabi said the court had granted what would be the last adjournment and directed the hearing proceed on June 30, 2026.