This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
On July 4, 2020, a motion to impeach Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu took an unexpected turn when it was discovered that one of the grounds for her removal could be based on forged Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) documents.
The motion, filed by County Assembly Majority Leader Peter Kilonzo, listed 12 grounds for removing the governor from office, including a conflict of interest in the purchase of a stone crusher for the devolved government.
According to the documents submitted by Mr. Kilonzo, the contract to supply, deliver, and install the machine with a capacity to crush 100-120 tonnes per hour was awarded to a company associated with the governor's family.
However, the governor's lawyers scrutinized the documents and evidence given by the ward representatives and claimed that the import declaration forms were forged.
Lead counsel Martin Oloo stated that the documents were altered by inserting phone contacts to create the impression that the governor's family was linked to the deal.
“A phone number of one Billy Indeche was inserted in the import declaration form number E180995400 to make it look like he was the contact person for the purchase of the crusher,” Mr. Oloo's statement to police read.
