NYS Scandal: Gov’t Goes after Sh32 Million Stashed in Bank Accounts Belonging to Former Youth Affairs PS Lillian Omollo

The Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has moved to seize Sh32.9 million from National Youth Service (NYS) scandal suspect, former Youth Affairs Principal Secretary Lillian Omollo.

The agency says the cash, believed to be proceeds of corruption, is stashed in 10 bank accounts belonging to three companies registered under the names of Ms. Omollo and her children.

ARA froze the 10 accounts on October 29th after obtaining court orders and now wants the court to issue orders surrendering the funds to the State on the ground of being proceeds of crime.

Earlier this year, Ms. Omollo was charged with the theft of Sh468 million from the youth agency alongside 35 other suspects and is currently out on bond.

The prosecution says the 10 bank accounts began receiving huge amounts of money 10 months after Ms. Omollo was appointed as PS in charge of State Department of Youth by President Kenyatta.

“The investigations conducted by the agency established that the funds are from illegitimate sources and part of the funds stolen from the NYS acquired by the respondents and deposited in the accounts owned, managed and run by Ms. Omollo.”

” It is in the public interest that the orders sought to be granted and the suspect funds be forfeited to the State and transferred to the ARA and any other ground that may be adduced during the hearing of the application,” says ARA in court papers.

The 10 accounts are premised at Equity Bank and Diamond Trust Bank (DTB) and are registered under three companies — Lidi Holdings Ltd, Lidi Estates Ltd, and Sahara Consultants.

ARA Director Muthoni Kimani says the agency has so far frozen more than Sh300 million held in bank accounts belonging to suspects in the NYS case.

Muthoni also says ARA has further thwarted transactions amounting to Sh2 billion involving land, cars and other assets by NYS suspects.