Nine people have been charged over the alleged misappropriation of Sh1.57bn from the Programme for Rural Outreach of Financial Innovation and Technology (PROFIT).
The suspects appeared before Milimani Anti-Corruption Court magistrate Rose Ndombi in Nairobi on Wednesday.
This is after the Director of Public Prosecutions approved the charges following their arrest by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
They face charges including abuse of office, unlawful acquisition of public property, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The case centres on funds held in accounts operated under the PROFIT programme, which was funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Prosecutors allege that money intended for programme activities and small-scale farmers was diverted to private individuals and businesses for services that were not provided.
The nine accused are Jospat Kamau, James Omwodo Ndai, Jimmy Carter Odoyo Osodo, Ian Kwemoi Chepkarat, Brian Kiprop Chepkarat, Gladys Juliet Oroni, John Maina Muriithi, Nemwel Moturi Motanya and John Ngure Kabutha.
They are among 36 individuals and entities investigated by the EACC over an alleged fraudulent disbursement scheme involving Sh1,569,582,338.20.
John Ngure Kabutha, identified as the PROFIT programme coordinator, faces multiple counts of abuse of office.
The prosecution alleges that between June 2019 and June 2022, he used his position to improperly confer benefits by authorising payments from the programme’s account.
The payments cited in the charges range from Sh2.36m to Sh799.84m and include transactions of Sh31.17m, Sh40.13m, Sh5.75m, Sh6.75m, Sh66.19m, Sh11.97m, Sh9.61m, Sh8.73m, Sh41.24m, Sh3.72m, Sh49.24m, Sh79.98m and Sh2.38m.
The prosecution alleges that the payments resulted in improper benefits being given to private individuals or entities.
James Omwodo Ndai, described in the charge sheet as a sole proprietor of several businesses, faces charges of unlawful acquisition of public property, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
He is accused of unlawfully acquiring Sh49.24m, Sh8.73m and Sh43.60m from the PROFIT account for services that were not rendered.
He also faces charges involving Sh5.73m, Sh14.41m and Sh16.05m allegedly obtained from the programme’s account between October 2022 and December 2023.
The prosecution alleges that Mr Omwodo knew, or had reason to believe, that some of the money was proceeds of crime.
He also faces a money-laundering charge involving Sh5.95m.
Jimmy Carter Odoyo Osodo. Carter faces charges of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The prosecution alleges that he unlawfully acquired Sh1.31m from PROFIT funds for services that were not rendered.
He is also accused of acquiring the same amount while knowing, or having reason to believe, that it was proceeds of crime.
Ian Kwemoi Chepkarat faces charges of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
He is jointly charged over the alleged acquisition of Sh5.96m from PROFIT funds for services that were not rendered.
Other charges relate to Sh79.98m, Sh23.40m and Sh8.08m, which the prosecution alleges were obtained from the programme for services that were not provided.
The prosecution further alleges that Mr Kwemoi knew, or had reason to believe, that Sh23.40m was proceeds of crime.
Brian Kiprop Chepkarat faces multiple counts of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
He is accused of unlawfully acquiring Sh66.19m from PROFIT funds for services that were not rendered.
He is also jointly charged over alleged acquisitions of Sh5.96m, Sh79.98m and Sh23.40m. Other charges involve Sh8.08m and Sh7.76m.
The prosecution alleges that the money was obtained from PROFIT funds for services that were not rendered and, in the case of Sh7.76m, that Chepkarat knew, or had reason to believe, that it was proceeds of crime.
Gladys Juliet Oroni faces charges of unlawful acquisition of public property, acquisition of proceeds of crime and money laundering.
The prosecution alleges that she unlawfully acquired Sh73.81m, Sh41.15m and Sh71.43m from PROFIT funds for services that were not rendered.
She also faces money-laundering charges involving Sh9.99m, Sh14.67m and Sh14.38m.
Further allegations concern transactions involving amounts including Sh23.40m, Sh8.08m, Sh9.76m, Sh3.39m, Sh6.73m, Sh14.41m, Sh3.51m, Sh3.41m, Sh3.61m and Sh4.96m.
The prosecution alleges that the money was proceeds of crime and that some transactions were carried out to conceal its nature or source.
Additional money-laundering charges involve Sh13m, Sh11.75m, Sh14.05m, Sh950,000 and Sh900,000.
The transactions are alleged to have taken place between 2022 and 2025.Nemwel Moturi Motanya, identified as a Senior Assistant Accountant General at the National Treasury, faces one count of abuse of office.
The prosecution alleges that between 1 August and 26 October 2022, he irregularly authorised banking arrangements for the PROFIT programme, resulting in the alleged loss of Sh175.30m.
He is accused of using his office to improperly confer a benefit on two individuals and occasion the loss of the funds.
John Maina Muriithi, identified as a Senior Accountant at the National Treasury, faces one count of abuse of office.
The prosecution alleges that between 1 August and 26 October 2022, he used his position to improperly confer a benefit and occasion a loss of Sh175.30m through actions relating to PROFIT funds.
Jospat Kamau faces charges of unlawful acquisition of public property and acquisition of proceeds of crime.
The prosecution alleges that between 18 October 2022 and 14 December 2023, he unlawfully acquired Sh5.30m from PROFIT funds for services that were not rendered.
He is also accused of acquiring the money while knowing, or having reason to believe, that it formed part of, or was proceeds of, crime.
The charges against the nine form part of a wider EACC investigation into the alleged loss of Sh1.57bn from the PROFIT programme.
The wider case also includes allegations of forgery, financial misconduct and the unauthorised opening of a bank account.
Those allegations relate to other suspects who were not among the nine arraigned on Wednesday.
The accused have not been convicted of any offence. They are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of law.
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