This archive report was first published on 29 June 2019.
June 29, 2019
Kenya Roads Board executive director Jacob Ruwa is at the center of a tender manipulation scandal, with allegations that he awards contracts to his preferred firms, bypassing the procurement department.
The Kenya Roads Board is responsible for disbursing funds to road agencies after approving their budgets and audited accounts. However, sources claim that Ruwa, in collusion with officials at the board, is attempting to influence tenders involving the sale of motor vehicles and provision of banking services.
What has raised eyebrows is that, despite the board operating active bank accounts worth billions, Ruwa wants to engage new handlers for unknown reasons. Fears are that he and his cartel at the board are seeking a friendly bank to manipulate KRB accounts.
A source at the board revealed that Ruwa boasts of using his financial influence to secure the plum position and is well-connected. He is said to prefer dealing in dollars rather than the local Kenyan currency.
Ruwa's relationship with David Orwenyo, general manager of technical compliance, is reportedly strained, with Orwenyo allegedly undermining Ruwa and scheming to take over the executive director position. Margaret Ogai, general manager of planning and programming, is said to be caught in the middle of the power struggle.
Lucy Gathika, general manager of legal and corporate affairs, is close to Ruwa and has been accused of pushing for the board to tender bank services, a move that has raised suspicions. The board's management team, including George Juma, head of information and communications technology, and Hamoud Mguza, head of human resource and administration, have expressed concerns about corruption and favoritism within the organization.
The Kenya Roads Board has eight members from the private sector and five from the public sector. Board members include Rita Kavashe, chairman, and Julius Korir, PS of the state department of infrastructure, among others.
