The New Kenya Cooperative Creameries (KCC) management has opened investigations into allegations of conflict of interest by its head of procurement.

The probe was prompted by the claims of a corruption watchdog that Jamleck Mwangi was doing business with the entity using proxy firms.

Kenya Network Against Corruption (KNAC) Operation Director Godwin Agutu, in a petition to New KCC Chairman Matu Wamae on January 25, demanded that Mr Mwangi’s conduct be investigated. KNAC copied the petition to Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission boss Twalib Mbarak and Trade industry and Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya.

The lobby attached the registration documents of a firm listed as one of the suppliers at the agency, claiming its listed directors were Mwangi's relatives. New KCC Managing Director Nixon Sigey yesterday said the agency had received the complaint and had instituted investigations.

“Yes, we did receive the complaint and we have since begun investigations to establish the facts of the claims,” Mr Sigey told The Standard. When reached for comment, Mwangi denied the claims, blaming his woes on an unnamed person he claimed was disgruntled for losing a tender.

“Not true. They are mere allegations coming from a known source who is disgruntled after losing business. Our lawyer has commenced defamation proceedings.”

On February 12, 2019, Mwangi, through Gachie Mwanza and Co Advocates, filed a defamation suit at the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court.

The procurement boss in court papers has attached inquiries from journalists who had called or sent him texts seeking his comment on the allegations.

“I aver that after publication of the said letter, I have received numerous texts from journalists to the effect that they were investigating and about to write a story about my deeds, which texts have been nothing but pain to me,” he said in his affidavit.

“That in their natural and ordinary meaning, the said words meant and were understood to mean that I am morally and workwise corrupt and undeserving to hold the post."

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