This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On July 15, 2020, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) received the green light to prosecute former Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) CEO Charles Tanui and two ex-managers, Elias Maina Karumi and Josphat Kipkoech Sirma, over a procurement irregularity that benefited a local firm, Redline Limited.
After two failed attempts in 2015 and 2017, the EACC has now successfully secured permission to charge the trio over a procurement anomaly involving the importation and installation of auto-transformers from France's Agecelec.
Investigations revealed that Redline Limited received Sh30 million for the transformers and an additional Sh973,912 in installation and commissioning fees, despite not being mentioned in the tendering process.
According to the EACC, the trio colluded to ensure that Redline got paid despite not having done any work, and helped forge documents to show that Redline Limited had done a good job.
The three were initially charged in 2015 and released on bond, but their prosecution was halted due to a technical hitch on the EACC's board constitution and a Director of Public Prosecutions order to conduct further investigations.
However, with the EACC now properly constituted, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Noordin Haji, has given the green light for the trio to be arrested and processed in preparation for prosecution.
Mr. Karumi and Mr. Sirma were arrested shortly afterwards, but Mr. Tanui could not be immediately traced. EACC CEO Twalib Mbarak has directed Mr. Tanui to surrender himself to officers at the Integrity Centre.
“The EACC established that a total sum of Sh30 million was paid to M/s Redline Limited using false documents whereas the items were never installed, tested or commissioned as per the contract agreement,” Mr. Mbarak said.
