CEO Ringera Ordered to Repay Ksh.491K to HELB by Court
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) CEO, Charles Ringera, has been ordered to repay Ksh. 491,852 to the state agency by a Nairobi court.
The ruling was made on 9th February by High Court Judge Esther Maina, who granted the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) the powers to hold senior public officials accountable for the loss of public funds within government agencies.
The ruling came after a petition was filed by Ringera challenging a decision by EACC to hold him personally liable for the loss of the amount.
The EACC alleges that in 2019, Ringera abused his position by directing HELB’s Chief Finance Officer Shem Gichimu to increase the salary of Chief Operations Officer Geoffrey Monari without getting the necessary approval from the HELB Board.
When Monari left HELB, he drew the cash irregularly awarded to him by the CEO. The EACC said that the CEO had “irregularly approved the review of the basic salary of the then Chief Operations Officer” and that it was a breach of the Leadership and Integrity Act.
After concluding investigations into the incident, the EACC determined that Ringera’s conduct amounted to abuse of office and a breach of public trust. The EACC surcharged Ringera and ordered him to repay the sum to HELB.
Ringera moved to the High Court to seek to quash the decision by EACC, arguing that EACC did not have such powers.
The High Court held that in protecting public property, the constitutional and statutory powers of EACC extend to securing compensation for the loss of public property from culpable public officers.
The Leadership and Integrity Act of 2012 mandates the Commission to oversee and enforce good governance among State officers, including prudent use of public resources.
EACC is within the law, which gives it the authority to institute and conduct civil proceedings for the recovery of public property or confiscate proceeds of corruption.
In conclusion, public officials must uphold the law and act in the best interest of the public.
The ruling against Ringera is a reminder that public officials will be held accountable for their actions and that there are consequences for any abuse of power or misuse of public funds. The EACC has a crucial role in upholding good governance and fighting corruption.
CEO Ringera Ordered to Repay Ksh.491K to HELB by Court