It seems that the wave of corruption is not ending anytime soon. Emerging reports now say that a probe on a Sh. 70 billion cash theft at the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) has been launched.
According to the Standard newspaper, the probe is investigating fraudulent awarding of tenders that may have cost taxpayers billions of money.
“Special focus will be on the awarding of the most lucrative tender to Zakhem, a Lebanese firm, to build a new pipeline in 2014 at nearly Sh. 48 billion – but the contract price has been adjusted upwards by at least Sh2.7 billion. Sources in the Directorate of Criminal Investigations have confirmed the progress of the probe, which KPC managers claim to know nothing about.
Referring to a raid last Saturday on the home of former KPC boss Charles Tanui, one source says that it involves several cases including the last week where managers’ homes were searched. Mr Tanui is under investigation, among others, for procurement of Sh. 647 million worth of specialised equipment,” the Standard reports.
But the KPC boss has denied the allegations that any cash has been lost, terming them as mere speculation and rumours.
“We find these allegations quite inaccurate, astonishing and maliciously calculated to injure KPC as a responsive organisation that is currently fulfilling its mandate to the Kenyan people,” the managing director is quoted saying. “I am not aware of any investigations on the company but as its managing director, I am available to provide any information demanded of KPC.”
The Standard further reports that sang has gone on to defend how the procurement tenders were awarded and paid.