Procurement of defense supplies has landed two principal secretaries in trouble in the supply of sophisticated weapons to the Kenya Prisons.
Details emerging reveal that the tender was designated as officially secret and accessible only to authorized people but was awarded to companies owned by local politicians which had no valid PIN and Tax Compliance certificates whereas some even forged Local Purchase Orders.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has however prevented payment of the Sh3.6 billion (80 percent) which was supposed to be paid before the delivery of the security items.
The report further shows that there was no tender performance security or bank guarantee, exposing the government to huge losses of military sources.
There was no authority from the National Security Advisory Committee or the National Security Council authorising the procurement of the security items and some companies were awarded tenders despite having no known address or location.
Investigations by the EACC also show that there was no budget for the procured items, and that the process was commenced without involving the Commissioner General of Prisons despite him being the one who requested the then Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo for the supplies prequalification in June 2014.
EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak on Thursday confirmed that the commission had received information about the intent to siphon Sh4.8 billion through the Department of Correctional Services.
“We are investigating the matter and we are on the final stages. Soon we will forward recommendations to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for action,” Mr Mbarak said.
The EACC has already questioned Post-Training and Skills Development Principal Secretary Alfred Cheruiyot and former Sports Principal Secretary Richard Ekai over the scandal the commission says violated the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.