Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui acquired a 200-acre plot valued at Sh300 million in 2019, just weeks after returning from an official trip to Italy with Deputy President William Ruto, according to Kenyan News Day.
The transaction, finalized in late 2018, involved a cash payment to Parminder Singh of Elgeyo Saw Mills through Hekiro Investments linked to Chelugui. A Sh300 million transfer was facilitated by Josephat Lowoi, a Uasin Gishu County Assembly majority leader, with the deal reportedly executed on behalf of Ruto.
This follows investigations into a multi-billion shilling scandal involving Italian firm CMC di Ravenna, which paid bribes to Jubilee government officials after receiving a Sh4.9 billion down payment for the Arror hydro-power dam project in Elgeyo Marakwet County in 2019. Chelugui was part of the delegation that traveled to Italy, where kickbacks were allegedly disbursed.
CMC di Ravenna secured 150 billion shillings in state contracts across three counties, including the Arror and Kimwarer dams. These projects, funded by Italian government-backed commercial loans, faced allegations of manipulated public consultations and suppressed dissent through paid security personnel and compromised media coverage.
Despite Ruto's 2018 public condemnation of critics as 'enemies of development,' key allies including Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen remained silent. Kenyan News Day plans to detail how a Sh6 billion kickback was distributed among senior officials in an upcoming series.
