Sh36 Million Discovered in Bank Accounts of Kenya Treasury Official Who Earns Sh144,000 Per Month

A National Treasury employee has had his four bank accounts frozen over unexplained fortune amassed over the last five years.

Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) opened an investigation against Charles Muia Mutiso after his assets failed to match his known legitimate income.

Mutiso is the Deputy Director in charge of External Resources at the National Treasury, a position he has held since 2014.

Initial investigations by EACC revealed that Mutiso, who earns a monthly net salary of Sh144,675, has a total of Sh36,786,068.73 in four bank accounts. He also owns parcels of land in Nairobi, Donyo Sabuk, and Matungulu areas.

“Investigations have revealed that Charles Mutiso earned a monthly net salary of Kshs. 144,675.60, as of 30th April 2020 and an average net of Kshs 118,691.17 from 1st April 2015 to 30th April 2020. During this period, he earned a cumulative net income of Kshs 7,148,991.25,” EACC says.

EACC further says it discovered several unexplained inward remittances, EFTs, and cash deposits outside his salary. For instance, he reportedly made five cash deposits of Sh400,000 each into his account at Absa Group, totaling Sh2 million over just a few days.

The anti-graft agency has obtained court orders to freeze Mutiso’s accounts including two at ABSA Group Ltd with Sh23,452,775.65 and Sh5,843,390.35 respectively pending completion of investigations. He also holds a Co-operative Bank account with Sh1,932,167.53 and a KCB account with Sh5,557,735.20.

“It is apparent that there is a huge disproportion between Charles Mutiso’s assets and his known legitimate income. In accordance with the law, he shall have an opportunity to explain as investigations continue,” says EACC.