KEBS MD Bernard Njiraini Facing Arrest Over Illegal Sh2.7 Billion Tenders

The Managing Director (MD) of the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Bernard Njiraini is now facing arrest just a few weeks after being put on the spot by a National Assembly Committee for allegedly awarding illegal Sh2.7 billion tenders to foreign companies.

The Members of Parliament (MPs) had accused the MD of ignoring the National Assembly Public Investments Committee (PIC) advisory to seek and follow the Attorney General's legal opinion regarding the awarding of the tenders.

Kebs was also accused of awarding the tenders to firms that had already been flagged in the PIC report. The Auditor-General had in a special audit report flagged EAA and Auto Terminal Japan (ATJ) and recommended that they be barred from such contracts.

The PIC has now asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to probe faster the circumstances under which Kebs entered into contract with the firms.

Kebs, however, went ahead and awarded the firms an international tender for the provision of Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVOC) services.

MPs recommended that the PPRA commences debarment proceedings against EAA and ATJ as soon as the report is adopted.

“The MD should be personally held responsible for any loss that Kebs may make arising from litigations associated with award of tender No Kebs/T019-2021.”

The MD had on July 2nd been arrested by the EACC for obstructing a bribery investigation linked to the controversial vehicle inspection tender.