FORMER TOURISM PS AND KTB CHIEF EXECUTIVE MUST STAND TRIAL
Behind the scenes maneuvering and legal tactics by defense teams seem to have failed for the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism Rebecca Nabutola and the former Chief Executive of the Kenya Tourist Board Dr. Onggonga Achieng, as news emerged yesterday evening from Nairobi that both of them have been committed to stand trial by the anti corruption court for alleged abuse of office and alleged fraud. The case has been scheduled to go ahead from 13th December in Nairobi and is expected to be concluded within a week. The duo is alleged to have used the absence of a board of directors at KTB at the time to obtain nearly 9 million Kenya Shillings for a tour of Permanent Secretaries to a game park and handed the deal to a choice operator and first broke in 2009. The matter came to a head when Jake Grieves Cook was re-appointed as KTB chairman for a second term of office in early 2008 and the board investigated the rumours flying around at the time, subsequently suspending the CEO. While Dr. Achieng was subsequently sacked by the KTB board, the PS too had to leave office to facilitate investigations but the long delay of the case had tourism observers baffled, suspecting behind the scenes maneuvers. Both accused are presently free on bail and as the case goes underway in two months, read all the details, updates and eventual verdict right here.
