NAIROBI: A Kenya court has jailed the country's former permanent secretary of Kenya's Tourism Ministry Rebecca Nabutola and the former Kenya Tourist Board Managing Director Achieng Ong'ong'a after they were convicted of corruption. Chief Magistrate Lucy Nyambura on Monday sentenced Nabutola to four years in jail while Ong'ong'a was given three years jail after both were found guilty “of conspiracy to defraud the government of 8.9 million shillings (about $106,000).” Businessman Duncan Muriuki was also sentenced to three years in prison in the case. Nabutola and Ong'ong'a were fined an additional 2.0 million and 1.5 million shillings respectively. Tour Operator Duncan Muriuki will also pay 17.8 million shillings in fines or serve three years jail in default. Nabutola was also accused of abusing her office and violating procurement laws while Ong'ong'a faced five counts of abuse of office by illegally sourcing for services, making payments for unrendered services as well as unlawfully authorizing their payments. Muriuki and his company faced charges of acquiring conflicting private interests in the contract by receiving money in the guise of tourism promotion. In her closing submissions, Nabutola had defended a trip to the Masaai Mara game reserve for permanent secretaries of various ministries by arguing that the three-day trip was funded by various stakeholders in the tourism sector. Anti-Corruption Court Magistrate Nyambura also directed Muriuki to refund 1.3 million shillings to the government, failure to which he will serve a further one year in prison. The three have 14 days to appeal against the judgment failing which they will have to spend at least three years in jail after the judge failed to include the option of cash bails in the sentences.
