The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested four Kericho County officials over procurement irregularities in a Ksh.100 million tender.
The tender was to upgrade and expand Kerenga Airstrip to Airport standards.
According to investigations by EACC, the four suspects, three who are County Government officials and one Ministry of Lands surveyor, allegedly changed the tender evaluation criteria to favor one bidder and exclude others.
Moreover, the suspects identified as Kibet Ngetich Nelson, Evaline Chepkirui Marogo Ngeno, John Kiprono Mibei, and Geoffrey Komen Kibowen were arrested on Tuesday, July 19.
The arrest came after the commission’s South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru County received a complaint about the accusations.
Furthermore, preliminary investigations reveal that, on April 18, 2018, the Chief Officer Public Works, Roads, and Transport formed a Tender Evaluation Committee to find a suitable bidder for the contract.
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Jemororan Construction Co. Limited was awarded the contract after submitting the lowest tender bid of Ksh. 97,421,980.
Conversely, it was revealed that the contractor forged completion certificates to demonstrate their ability to complete the contract.
In addition, EACC said they obtained forged completion certificates from the County Governments of Narok, Nakuru, KeNHA, and KeRRA.
Moreover, the company was further found to be unregistered with the National Construction Authority (NCA), and the registration certificate attached to their bid document was fabricated.
Nonetheless, the four suspects are set to appear before the Kericho Anti-Corruption Court on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, to answer to the charges leveled against them.
Likewise, EACC is looking for three more suspects to charge with similar crimes.
