Mary Walingo, the Maasai Mara University VC granted Sh 10 Million cash bail on Mara Heist theft

 

Maasai Mara University Vice-Chancellor Mary Walingo. FILE

 

Maasai Mara University Vice-Chancellor Mary Walingo and four other suspects were on Wednesday granted Sh20 million bond each with surety of the same in a case over university Sh177 million theft.

They were also given the option of raising Sh10 million bail to secure their freedom.

The case will be heard on September 11.

DPP Noordin Haji had on Monday granted a green light for the prosecution of Walingo and four others.

 

VC Walingo and her colleagues were accused of irregularly withdrawing cash from the institution's accounts for personal use between 2016 and 2019.

"I am satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support various charges under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act against the accused," Haji said in a statement on Monday.

 

 

According to the DPP, investigations by the DCI confirmed untenable withdrawals totalling to Sh177 million belonging to the University.

"Analysis of the evidence obtained indicates that monies withdrawn by authorized finance officers at the University would be irregularly delivered to the Vise Chancellor through her proxies," Haji said.

Other suspects include the school's Deputy VC of Finance and Planning Mr Simon Kasine, Deputy VC of Academics John Almadi, Finance officer Anaclet Okumu and the VC's driver Noor Hassan Abdi.

In September 2019, an expose by a local tv station dubbed "Mara Heist" put to light the 'systematic' fraud by university officials.

The revelation roused up public reactions with varsity unions demanding the VC to step aside for investigations.