Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) detectives have taken five suspects into custody in connection with an Isiolo County procurement scandal worth Ksh.58.6 million.
About the scandal surrounding the illegitimate awarding of a Ksh.58,560,000 tender to Driscoll Limited for the supply and delivery of a fire engine to Isiolo County in the Financial Year 2018/2019, the anti-graft agency is currently investigating 13 suspects, including the five individuals under investigation.
Peter Ngechu Muhuha, the former chief officer of finance; Adano Salad Kadubo, the former chief officer of public works, housing, and urban development; Abdinassir Ali, the former head of Treasury; and accountants Jibril Hassan and Augustine Kariuki Gatebu are the suspects who will be arraigned in court on Thursday.
In the interim, Kadubo is being detained at the Integrity Centre Police Station of the anti-graft watchdog. At the same time, four suspects are being processed at EACC in preparation for their court appearance.
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"EACC investigations established that the suspects engaged in a flawed procurement process designed to fraudulently award a tender for the supply and delivery of a fire engine to Drescoll Limited worth Ksh.58,560,0001," EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak said in a statement to newsrooms.
"The said contractor is at the centre of a related investigation in Marsabit County Government involving a Ksh.62,000,000 tender for similar supply and delivery of a fire engine."
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) received a recommendation from the EACC to prosecute the 13 suspects after concluding investigations into the allegations.
The accusations include:
Violations of laws about the procurement process.
Unlawful acquisition of public property.
Official misconduct.
Since then, the eight remaining suspects have been told to appear for questioning at the EACC's regional office in Isiolo.
These people are Linus Gichunge Thuranira (former county legal advisor), Dr. Salad Kikuyu Sorite (former head of supply chain management), Qanchora Roba (former chief finance officer), and Yusuf Mohammed Galgalo (former chief officer, finance).
The others are Kennedy Mocharia Murimi, a transportation officer; Ali Godana Wako, a former town administrator for Isiolo County; John Thuranira Nkuraru, an assistant to the supply chain management; and Bashir Hassan Abey Mamo, the director of Drescoll Limited.
