Kenyan authorities urged to divert minister Lomuro’s seized cash for aid delivery

JUBA – The Kenyan government has been urged to return the cash seized from bank account of South Sudan minister of Cabinet Affairs, Dr. Martin Elia Lomoro, so that it is channeled to support humanitarian activities in the country.

The Asset Recovery Agency (ARA) had filed a case against the minister following suspicious transactions on his account amounting to $460,000 between January 4, 2018, and January 2, 2020, which the agency labeled as money laundering.

In December 2019, the US, through the Treasury’s Office of foreign assets control (OFAC) sanctioned Lomuro and his defense counterpart Kuol Manyang Juuk for allegations of fanning violence in the country for their own personal enrichment.

“We hope that the money the froze in Kenya under the concept of money laundering from South Sudan should be returned to South Sudan in form of humanitarian assistance to meet the best interest of South Sudanese,” Edmund Yakani, Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), said, according to the Dawn Newspaper.

Edmund Yakani, Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO) suggested that to authorities in Nairobi to transfer $460,000 frozen recently from Lomuro local currency account on order of Kenyan’s Judge.

“I really appreciate the action which was taken to freeze the laundering money of Cabinet Minister of South Sudan in Kenya; I think that is good practice and a good move that money has been frozen,” Yakani told Sudans Post reporter Wednesday.

The activist welcomed that verdict of the Kenyan Court, adding that it sets a precedent in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.

“This is within a spirit of fighting corruption although it takes long, at least now we have seen region responding and that is a good move,” he said.

The outspoken activist warned authorities against using the money for individual gain.

“We would like to urge the bank in Kenya that they should make sure that money is not used in any individuals gain or any form but should be benefit South Sudanese through humanitarian assistance,” he added.