DCI investigating Sh300 million JKIA screening machines tender

Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating a Sh300 million tender at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

The tender involves procurement of screening machines, which sleuths say in court papers are faulty.

At the center of the saga is Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) and Ms Magnate Ventures, the firm that supplied the scanners.

A DCI investigator sought court's intervention to access KAA's board meeting minutes and those of the tender committee which was tasked to scrutinize the bidders.

According to the lead investigator, Inspector of Police Samuel Kirichu, some of the screening machines immediately broke down after installation. He claims that this raised doubts on the quality of the machines.

"Preliminary investigations show that some of the screening facilities broke down immediately after installation. Despite the breakdown of some of the facilities, and some missing at the site, there is evidence that the contract was fully paid in the said account (Magnate's account)," claimed Kirichu.

He also wants to scrutinize the tender documents in relation to the machines.

Mr Kirichu also wants to cart away appointment letters and job description of KAA's board secretary Catherine Kisila, General Manager Margaret Muraya, Electrical Engineer Owen Waithaka and Finance manager Caroline Wangui Macharia.

"The investigations are touching on a contract between Kenya Airports Authority and Ms Magnate Ventures limited with the scope being the design and installation of screening facilities at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) and other airports," Kirichu added.

The investigations, he said, relate to suspected conspiracy to commit a felony.

Some of the information being sought is how Magnate clinched the tender and also what the specifications of the machines were.