How Govt Employee Earning Ksh55,000 Salary Amassed Ksh643M

Justice Esther Maina issued an order barring Nashon Wilson Kanani and his associates from accessing or transferring funds in 12 bank accounts held at various banks.

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Sep 14, 2023 - 15:22
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How Govt Employee Earning Ksh55,000 Salary Amassed Ksh643M
The Nairobi County Council Governor's office at City Hall. /BUSINESS DAILY

The High Court on Wednesday, September 13 froze assets worth Ksh643 million belonging to a City Hall employee earning a monthly net salary of Ksh55,866.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) wants the court to order the forfeiture of the assets which include land, apartments, cars, and cash, to the State, alluding that the assets were disproportionate to his monthly salary.

Justice Esther Maina issued an order barring Nashon Wilson Kanani and his associates from accessing or transferring funds in 12 bank accounts held at various banks.

EACC offices at Integrity Centre in Nairobi. /FILE

EACC claimed that Kanani, an employee of the Nairobi City County Government, used his position to influence the award of tenders and contracts to companies linked to him or his relatives.

According to court documents, Kanani despite earning a Ksh55,000 monthly salary had received and channelled Ksh506 million through bank accounts in his name and family members between January 2016 and October 2022.

He was also accused of acquiring several properties worth over Ksh100 million using the proceeds of crime.

Some of the properties under investigation are a plot in Kitengela valued at Ksh15 million, an apartment in Syokimau valued at Ksh12 million as well as a plot in Athi River valued at Ksh9 million,

Also under scrutiny include a plot in Machakos valued at Ksh8 million, and four vehicles worth Ksh11.5 million. Kanani is also said to own a popular Nairobi nightclub.

In 2022, Lady Justice Esther Maina granted the orders to allow the EACC to complete investigations into claims the employee, through his position as the Development Control Officer, received bribes and kickbacks thereby accumulating the money as well as other assets among them two high-end motor vehicles.

Investigations established that his duties at the county included regulation of outdoor advertisements, monitoring and surveillance of all outdoor advertisements and calling advertisers to comply with approvals and payments for advertisements. 

“Although he earns a monthly net salary of Ksh55,000, investigations have revealed that between January 2016 and October 2022, he received and channelled monies suspected to have been received through corruption amounting to Ksh506,397,460.71 through bank accounts in his name, the name of companies associated with him, his family members including his spouse and his minor children,” read court documents.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed a civil suit against Kanani and his co-respondents seeking the recovery of the unexplained wealth as well as the imposition of a civil penalty equivalent to the value of the assets.

EACC argued that the junior City Hall employee and his co-respondents have violated the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, the Proceeds of Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act, and the Constitution.

The court has since directed the EACC to serve the respondents with the application and the suit within 14 days.

The respondents have been given 21 days to file their responses. The matter will be mentioned on September 27, for further directions.

Outside the Milimani Law Courts. /FILE

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