This archive report was first published on 13 August 2019.
Garissa Township MP Adan Duale has begun to distance himself from Deputy President William Ruto, amid allegations of corruption and a hefty tax demand from the Kenya Revenue Authority.
According to sources, Duale is under investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over corruption at the Kenya Pipeline Company, which has led him to seek good relations with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Documents obtained by Nyakundi Report reveal that in November 2015, Duale's son, Abdul, orchestrated the removal of Florence Akoth as KPC managing director, paving the way for the looting of the state body.
Akoth had blocked Duale's contracts and stopped payments to his firms, which were demanding millions of shillings.
After her removal, all the cancelled contracts were reinstated, including a tender for the rehabilitation of the Nairobi-Mombasa Pipeline, awarded to Duale's firm, Centre Star Ltd, for Sh490 million.
Under investigation is also a Sh300 million tender awarded to Duale through a shell company that partnered with JV of Express Automation.
Additionally, Duale has been slapped with over Sh1.5 billion in tax demands by KRA, and a firm associated with him has been awarded government tenders worth Sh2.6 billion over the last 10 years.
As the 2022 elections approach, Duale's distancing from Ruto may be a strategic move to avoid facing a similar fate as Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu, who has been charged with theft of over Sh500 million.
