The National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) Director General has been charged alongside Xponics Limited with graft related offences.
Stephen Ogenga is accused of conferring a benefit of Sh 4,800,654 to Xponics Limited by authorising payments to the said company in respect of the tender No. NITA/12/2017-2018 for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, service, maintenance, and repair of sewing and training machines for the financial years 2017/2018.
Ogenga is alleged to have committed the offence between 31st January and 29th March 2019.
His co-accused persons, Xponics Limited and its directors, James Waweru and Sheila Wambui Nyakinyua are charged with fraudulent accusation of public property, to wit Sh 10,189,064, by presenting a falsified bid to ensure an unfair advantage in respect to the above tender.
The three are also charged with fraudulent practice by submitting a bid in respect of tender No. NITA/12/2017-2018 for the supply, delivery, installation, commissioning, training, maintenance, and repair of sewing machines for the financial years 2017 and 2018.
It is alleged that the trio committed the offence between 31st December 2016 and 20th June 2018.
The accused persons denied the charges before Principal Magistrate Zipporah Gichana.
Each accused person was granted a bond of Sh 3 million with one surety of a similar amount.
Alternatively, each can deposit a cash bail of Sh 1 million each to secure their release pending the hearing and determination of the case.
In addition, the three were ordered to deposit their passports in court and not to leave the jurisdiction of the court.
The magistrate also issued orders to NITA former DG Paul Kipsang Kosgei who was absent during plea taking, to appear in court on 5th June 2024 to plead to the charges.
The case is scheduled for pretrial on 19th June 2024.
