PIC directs suspension of Sh43b pipeline tender, as MD Charles Tanui snubs seventh summon

NAIROBI, KENYA: The Public Investment Committee has now directed the government to suspend the implementation sh43 billion contract awarded by Kenya Pipeline Corporation to a Lebanese firm.

PIC said the process leading to the contract awarded to Zhakem International Construction was suspicious and thus its implementation should not commence until emerging issues are cleared.

The Adan Keynan led house committee made the resolution Wednesday after KPC Managing Director Charles Tanui failed to appear before the watchdog committee for the seventh time.

“This committee advices the government to suspend the implementation of this project until all emerging issues are sorted out,” an irked Keynan said.

Apart from suspending the project, PIC also wants a forensic audit any the office of the auditor general to determine the financial prudence of the mega deal.

Further, the committee directed the Public Procurement and Oversight Authority (PPOA) to furnish them with the details of the tendering process, after PPOA cleared the tender process to pave way for the signing of the contract.

Keynan issued a stern warning to the MD, should he fail to appear before the committee on Tuesday next week after he directed the sergeant at arms to serve the KPC boss with summons to appear.

“Part of the roles of PIC is to interrogate and examine the commercial viability of all investments by public entities, and thus the MD must comply with this summons to appear and present to the committee the report on the tendering process,” he said.

MPs accused the management of KPC of rushing the process and evading parliament saying there was a sinister motive.

Apart from PIC, Tanui is expected to appear before another parliamentary committee, Energy and Communications, on Wednesday after receiving similar summons. He has also failed to appear before the Jamleck Kamau led committee twice.

“Someone wants to make serious decisions and then bring them to this committee for interrogations but we are saying that as a committee we have to move with speed to stop anything they want to do so as to circumvent this committee,” Funyula MP Paul Otuoma said.

PIC vice chair Kimani Ichungwa said there were controversies surrounding the tender, which include threat to a senior manager at KPC over the same.

A senior manager with Kenya Pipeline Company Ltd is living in fear after unknown people sent Engineering Manager Bramwel Wanyalikha a parcel with a live bullet threatening him with death. He also received a condolence card consoling him over his “bereavement”.

The parcel containing the bullet and condolence card was sent to Wanyalikha a week after the company awarded the Sh43 billion Nairobi pipeline (Line 1) replacement project tender to Zakhem International Construction Limited.