The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested four Kericho county officials for procurement irregularities in a Ksh.100 million tender to upgrade and expand Kerenga Airstrip to Airport standards.
The four, three County Government officials and one Ministry of Lands surveyor, allegedly changed the tender evaluation criteria to favor one bidder and exclude the others.
Kibet Ngetich Nelson, Evaline Chepkirui Marogo Ngeno, John Kiprono Mibei, and Geoffrey Komen Kibowen were arrested on Tuesday after the EACC’s South Rift Regional Office in Nakuru received a complaint about the allegations.
According to preliminary investigations, on April 18, 2018, the Chief Officer Public Works, Roads, and Transport formed a Tender Evaluation Committee to find a suitable bidder for the contract.
Jemororan Construction Co. Limited was then awarded the contract after submitting the lowest tender bid of Ksh. 97,421,980.
However, it was discovered that the contractor (Jemororan) had forged completion certificates to demonstrate their ability to complete the contract.
The EACC claimed they obtained forged completion certificates from the County Governments of Narok, Nakuru, KeNHA, and KeRRA.
The company was also found to be unregistered with the National Construction Authority (NCA), and the registration certificate attached to their bid document was a forgery.
The Commission is also looking for three more suspects to charge with similar crimes.