In Summary:
- Jimmy Kiamba, former Nairobi County Finance Chief Officer, loses over Kes 200 million in assets following a Supreme Court ruling.
- The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) seized Ksh 113.9 million and seven multi-million properties linked to unexplained wealth.
On Thursday, May 23, former Nairobi County Finance Chief Officer Jimmy Kiamba lost multimillion-shilling properties and funds in his bank accounts after a Supreme Court ruling.
The Supreme Court directed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to seize assets and money estimated to exceed Ksh 200 million.
Kiamba’s seized assets included Ksh 113.9 million in bank accounts and seven multi-million-shilling properties.
The EACC filed a petition against Kiamba, arguing that some of his assets were acquired illegally. It was also revealed that Kiamba had distributed some of the properties to his family members.
The Supreme Court, consisting of Justices Njoki Susanna Ndung’u, Smokin Wanjala, Isaac Lenaola, William Ouko, and Mohamed Khadhar Ibrahim, dismissed Kiamba’s appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling.
The court stated, “The Notice of Motion dated 22nd February 2024 and filed on 4th March 2024, be and is hereby struck out.”
The Court of Appeal had upheld the High Court’s decision, finding that Kiamba and his associates possessed unexplained wealth.
The EACC welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision. Spokesperson Eric Ngumbi noted that the commission filed the recovery suit in the High Court after investigations revealed that Kiamba held wealth disproportionate to his legitimate income sources.
Kiamba was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for the disparity, leading to the forfeiture proceedings.
Initially, the EACC listed 15 parcels of land, seven vehicles, and the funds in bank accounts, estimating Kiamba’s total wealth at Ksh 872 million.
The figure was later reduced to Ksh 575 million, with the Court of Appeal ruling allowing Kiamba to retain Ksh 168.7 million.
Kiamba was accused of acquiring the properties between 2009 and 2013.