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Former CEO of Bomas of Kenya, Peter Gitaa, appeared before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court today, facing charges of failure to comply with laws relating to procurement. Gitaa, who was arrested by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on Friday, pleaded not guilty to all seven counts presented before Magistrate Thomas Nzioki.
During the arraignment, Magistrate Nzioki granted Gitaa release on a cash bail of one million Kenyan Shillings or a bond of five million Kenyan Shillings with similar surety. Additionally, Gitaa was ordered to surrender his passport to the court, with provisions for its return when necessary travel outside the country arises.
The charges against Gitaa stem from allegations that between December 29th, 2020, and June 30th, 2021, within Nairobi County, while serving as CEO and accounting officer of Bomas of Kenya Limited, he willfully failed to comply with procurement laws. Specifically, it is alleged that he engaged in a procurement process without an approved budget, pertaining to various kitchen items and utensils during the financial year 2020/2021.
Gitaa’s arrest came on his first day back in office following his reinstatement by the Court. He was among 74 public officials suspended based on recommendations from the EACC to facilitate ongoing investigations.
The case is set to be mentioned on May 9th for pre-trial directions, indicating the commencement of legal proceedings against Gitaa. As the matter progresses, it highlights ongoing efforts to uphold accountability and transparency in public procurement processes, ensuring adherence to established laws and regulations.