A Nairobi court has granted Salim Swalleh, the communication director at the Prime Cabinet secretary office and five others arrested over fake AFCON stadia tender a cash bail of Sh 400,000 pending completion of investigations.
Swalleh was arrested alongside Otieno Japolo Michael, Terry Kemunto Sese, Daniel Omondi Gogo, John Musundi Wabomba and James William Makoha.
The court further ordered the suspects to surrender their passports in court.
The prosecution had made an application to have the six detained for 14 days to allow the police to complete investigations.
The court heard that the suspects are under investigation for several offenses including conspiracy to commit a felony, attempt to obtain money by false pretences, personating a person employed in the public service and an abuse of office.
It is alleged that the complainants of the fraud are foreigners from Dubai and South Africa.
According to investigating officer Inspector Nicholas Njoroge,
the six were arrested on 23rd June 2024 in Prime Cabinet Secretary office.
“The complainants were made to believe that after the meeting at Prime Cabinet secretary office, they would meet other Government officials from the ministry of Interior, Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, two senators from budget committee of parliament and sport committee members with an aim of securing the tender of building the stadia,” Inspector Njoroge said.
The court heard that upon entering the said office, Swalleh paved way allowing the other respondents to hold a meeting with the foreigners where Michael personated himself as the chairman of Government delivery unit domiciled at the office of the prime cabinet secretary and would assist the foreigners in speeding up the tendering process.
It is alleged that the complainants were to part with USD 45,000 (Apprx Sh 5,850,000) as a registartion fee before securing the tender.
