Businessman’s firms on detectives radar over lucrative tender awards
By Print Reporter, July 28, 2023The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investing circumstances under which four companies linked to a businessman have been awarded multimillion tenders in various counties and government agencies.
Detectives from the Serious Crimes Unit of the DCI have been on the trail of business transactions of the firms as they try to establish whether tenders were awarded through influence, or coercion and whether all the works were undertaken.
The detectives are said to be interested to know why in some instances, some payments were made to the companies in full before the works were complete while, in others, before any works commenced.
DCI boss Mohamed Amin confirmed that at least three government investigative agencies were on the trail of the companies.
He, however, added that no specific crime had been established yet.
“I can’t say that we are investigating the companies over any specific crime at the moment, but we are only trying to verify whether the tenders were awarded through regular procedures and payments made after completion of the works,” Amin said.
Under investigation are Wakiwa Company Limited, Beam Ling International Enterprises Limited and Kitale Touch Lodge.
According to documents seen by journalists, Beam Ling International Enterprises Limited was paid Sh35,924,504 through a bank account at Family Bank, Bungoma branch for tarmacking the Kibuku-Kabawa-Chepkitale road in Kitale. Instead of tarmacking the full 21 kilometres as stipulated in the contract documents, the company only undertook 15 kilometres despite having been paid the full amount.
“We want to find out why the company was paid the full amount despite having only done 15 kilometres of the road and left the other six kilometres. This is shortchanging the tax payer,” a senior detective at DCI said.
Another company also associated with the businessman was also awarded a tender for the construction of accessible pit latrines at Rwambiti Primary School in Kirinyaga County under the Ministry of Education and paid Sh2,240,300,00. The money was wired through Bank of Africa at a Thika branch account.
The detectives are also on the trail of Wakiwa Company Limited, that was paid Sh125,388,433 through Equity Bank account by the Nairobi County government.
The money was paid on June 19, 2023 after Wakiwa company had been awarded a contract for open street sweeping, waste collection and disposal.