DCI detectives have arrested a procurement officer over an alleged fraud scheme that siphoned Sh675,000 from the Mwai Kibaki Hospital Annex at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Othaya in Nyeri County through forged procurement documents.
The suspect, Bernard Mutegi, was arrested on Monday in Chuka by detectives from the Serious Crimes Unit (SCU) attached to KNH following investigations into the alleged fraudulent payments.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations , investigators established that between June 30, 2022, and November 8, 2023, Mutegi allegedly orchestrated a scheme involving fake delivery notes and payment vouchers purportedly issued in the name of Fesmat Investments.
Detectives said the counterfeit documents falsely indicated that aprons had been delivered to the hospital, paving the way for the unlawful payment of Sh675,000 for goods that were never supplied.
"The investigation unearthed that from June 30, 2022, to November 8, 2023, the suspect allegedly concocted a scheme involving fake delivery notes and payment vouchers in the name of Fesmat Investments," the DCI said in a statement.
The agency added that the forged documents "falsely claimed that aprons had been supplied to the hospital, paving the way for the unlawful payment of Sh675,000 for goods that were never delivered."
Following completion of investigations, the case file was forwarded to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which approved charges against the suspect.
Mutegi is expected to face charges of conspiracy to defraud, making a document without authority, and stealing.
The suspect remains in police custody as detectives complete processing ahead of his arraignment in court.
The DCI said investigations into the alleged fraud are continuing, with detectives pursuing other individuals believed to have participated in the scheme.
"In the meantime, detectives have intensified efforts to trail and arrest other suspects linked to the fraudulent scheme who remain at large," the agency said.
The arrest forms part of ongoing efforts by investigators to crack down on procurement-related fraud within public institutions and recover public funds lost through fraudulent schemes.
The DCI has also appealed to members of the public with information that could assist the investigation to report anonymously through its toll-free hotline or WhatsApp reporting channels.