DDP Noordin Haji orders Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane arrests over world bank fund theft

 

Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane. FILE

 

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Noordin Haji orders the arrest Garissa Governor Ali Bunow Korane and charged for the misappropriation of Ksh.233,506,000 World Bank grant.


In a statement issued on Thursday, the DPP added that Governor Korane and four others purportedly misappropriated Ksh.233,506,000 issued by the World Bank under the Kenya Urban Support program.


The announcement reads that investigation revealed the money was redirected on different occasions between February 2019 and September 2019.


“The said funds were to be used for three specific municipal projects specifically; construction of Qorahey market, recarpeting of Garissa Township Central Business District roads and construction of stormwater drainage and pedestrian walkways,” reads the statement.


However, more investigations, carried out by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), resolves that Mr Korane abandoned his responsibilities leading to the misappropriation of the grant funds. It also roped four other county officials and their roles in the theft.


“The irregular transfers were aided by Ibrahim Malow Nur, the Chief Finance Officer, Mohamed Ahmed Abdullahi, Head of Treasury, Abdi Shale, County Executive Officer Municipality, and Ahmed Abdullahi Aden, the head of accounting at the Municipal,” reads the statement.

 

The five will be arrested with five charges namely; Conspiracy to commit an offence of economic crime, misappropriation of public funds, abuse of office, engaging in a project without prior planning and willful failure to comply with the law.