A Kenyan company is accused of fleecing the Malawian government of Sh4.8 million ($48,000) for a lift supply deal at the Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe that was never fulfilled, according to reports by The Nation and Nyasa Times.
Opposition members of parliament questioned the government over the payment, which was made to secure a lift that never arrived.
Malawi’s Justice Minister, Samuel Tembenu, stated that the government cannot locate the Kenyan company despite being paid. However, he assured that his government is collaborating with Kenyan authorities to trace the company’s officials.
Minister Tembenu expressed hope that the company would be found and held accountable, saying, "It is our hope that the company will be found and be dealt with accordingly."
Investigation Details ¶
The unnamed Kenyan company was reportedly recommended to the Malawian government by the Japanese company Mitsubishi, according to Minister Tembenu.
He further explained that an official from the company inspected the specifications and informed Mitsubishi about the necessary equipment. The minister added, "If the company is insolvent, we will file a claim. There is no need to be despondent."
The issue was raised in the Malawian parliament by Chitipa South MP Welani Chilenga, who alleged that the payment for the new lift was made between 2014 and the previous year.
MPs questioned how the government paid the full amount before the lift was delivered to the airport. Rumphi East MP Kamlepo Kalua pointed out that no due diligence or investigation was conducted to verify the authenticity of the company.
The recovered account cited reporting by Nairobi News.
