EACC now defends building purchase

The anti-graft agency has defended the acquisition of Integrity Centre building at a cost of Sh1.5 billion, even as questions arise about the construction's valuation.

According to a parliamentary investigation, the building could have cost Sh400 million five years ago, and there was no way the price could have shot to Sh1.5 billion.

But while defending the acquisition in Parliament yesterday, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairman Eliud Wabukala challenged the assertion that a building in such a prime area could have cost Sh400 million.

He said no property of that kind in Nairobi could have cost such an amount.

“The Sh400 million was in itself questionable, because I doubt if at that time this property could have been worth that amount,” said Archbishop Wabukala.

The probe found that Tegus Limited bought Integrity Centre from Revack Limited for Sh400 million in 2013, which was later sold to EACC at Sh1.5 billion last year.

EACC argued that Sh400 million was a selling price agreed upon by the seller and the buyer and that there was no valuation done on the property.

EACC also says the building is too small to accommodate its staff.