The High Court has extended orders freezing the accounts belonging to Daniel Munywoki Wambua, a junior official at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority.
This is after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission applied to have the period extended pending the conclusion of investigations into how he amassed Sh21 million in four months.
When the matter came up for directions on Monday, counsel for EACC told Deputy Registrar, Anti-Corruption Court Emily Nyakundi that they had obtained extension orders on February 9.
Nyakundi was holding a brief for Justice Nixon Sifuna.
Lawyer Lunyolo Culent further stated that orders had already been served to the respondents, explaining their absentia in court.
In the case, Wambua is being investigated by EACC over allegations of money laundering.
His account holding Sh21 million was frozen on August 10, 2023, following suspicions that the money could be proceeds of time.
Applying for the orders then, EACC told the court that Wambua being an accountant at KeRRa had a monthly net pay of Sh55,000.
"That amount is less than Sh800,000 in a year but in a span of 3 months, he deposited Sh1.7 million," the EACC said.
In October last year, Wambua unsuccessful attempted to have the orders set aside saying the money was meant for dowry and he had received it from well-wishers.
The anti-graft agency however said his explanation is an afterthought.
It said his dowry already took place on August 4, and that the explanation of him needing the money for the ceremony could not be true.
"The accounts were frozen on August 10. Wambua had an opportunity to withdraw the money and pay dowry but he didn't because the sh 21 million was never meant for dowry," the commission said.
Dismissing his application, Justice Nixon Sifuna said the monies would be available once the source of such funds is ascertained.
"The monies are safe in the bank and they will still be available for the respondent once the legitimate purpose for which they were preserved is fulfilled," the Judge said in November.
He explained that the purpose of the orders issued in August was to allow the anti-graft agency to carry out its probe regarding the source of the funds.
The matter will come up again on March 20, 2024.
