Some Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission officials unaware of Uhuru list as Felix Koskei turned away

Kenya: Uncertainty still surrounds the purge on graft even as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) appeared split, with some commissioners disowning the list President Uhuru Kenyatta forwarded to the Speaker of the National Assembly last Thursday.

The commissioners said they were not aware of the list as they had handed their report to the Parliamentary Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs on February 19.

Top personalities named in the report that saw President Kenyatta call for their stepping aside were yesterday still in the dark about the allegations levelled against them.

Yesterday, suspended Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Felix Koskei walked into EACC offices at Integrity Centre in the company of his lawyers, to find out the crime he is alleged to have committed, but was turned away and asked to return there on Thursday because the detectives were not ready.

Koskei, who was accompanied by five lawyers led by Ochieng Oduol, said he was eager to know the allegations since he had never been summoned or questioned by EACC.

He quit on Saturday after he was informed by State House his name was among those contained in a confidential report sent to the President by EACC CEO Halakhe Waqo.

The report links line Cabinet Secretaries to corruption cases under investigations.

Suspension of Energy CS Davis Chirchir could be linked to the probe at the Kenya Pipeline Company.

EACC is investigating six matters facing KPC. The issues include an inquiry into alleged corrupt intent in the procurement of Biometric Medical System whose value is yet to be determined and allegations against eight clearing agencies that falsified documents to claim reimbursements and commissions of Sh242.7 million.

Others include an inquiry into allegations of procurement irregularities in the KPC award of tenders to Petro City, Redline Company and Lelan Koech and Company Advocates valued at Sh5 billion and irregular debt refinancing of Sh2 billion by Triple A to KPC management that caused the parastatal to incur losses of about Sh286 million.

Also under investigation is an allegation that KPC irregularly formed a joint venture with M/s Gas Company (GCL) which caused KPC to incur a loss of Sh130 million and a parcel of land acquired in 2007 at an inflated cost of Sh600 million.

KPC is under probe over the purchase of a two-acre parcel of land neighbouring its headquarters in Industrial Area at a cost of Sh545 million and another parcel on the process of buying in Kajiado.

The report said EACC is also investigating the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission cases reported in May 2013 and May 2014. They are cases on acquisition of EVID kits and the Chickengate scandal. Chirchir has been grilled over the issues so far.

At the Geothermal Development Company, the commission has opened an inquiry into allegations of procurement irregularities during a tender for purchase of land, rigs, two incidents of financial improprieties and gross staff mismanagement.

At the Kenya Power, there is an inquiry into allegations that a company by the name of Windward Trading Ltd was formed to receive money/proceeds from award of contracts between the power firm and foreign companies.

There is also an inquiry into allegations that officials of Kenya Power irregularly awarded tenders to companies associated with them for the supply of poles.

EACC is also investigating four cases at the Judiciary, four cases at the weighbridges, three cases at the Mumias Sugar Company.

Labour CS Kazungu Kambi is believed to be targeted in the probe of cases at the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

They include alleged misrepresentation at the NSSF Board of Trustees, allegations that the board irregularly approved a budget of Sh5,053,520,321.06 for the regularisation and infrastructure development of Tassia II Scheme and awarded tender to China Jiangxi International Kenya Ltd.

For Lands CS Charity Ngilu's ministry, there is investigation into irregular allocation and issuance of titles in respect of 500,000 acres of public land in Lamu County to 22 private entities, an inquiry into allegations of irregular acquisition of Langata Road Primary School, allegations that that top government officials are among beneficiaries of the 134.4 acre land in Karen and inquiry into allegations by a private company that there is a scheme orchestrated by the Ministry of Lands Officials to deprive it of a parcel of land L.R No. 209/19473 located along State House Crescent Road in Nairobi.

For Transport CS Michael Kamau's ministry, there is a complaint from the local agents of KOCKS KRANE GMBH to the effect that the KPA tender for 'design, manufacturing, commissioning and supply of three ships to Shore Gantry Cranes' was irregularly awarded to Liebherr Container Cranes by the KPA top management and the KPA Central Tender Committee. The tender was worth Sh3 billion.

At the Immigration department, the commission is pursuing claims of corruption in issuance of work permits, hence the suspension of Jane Waikenda.