The Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei has asked the Board of the Athi Water Works Development Agency to suspend its Chief Executive Officer Eng. Michael Thuita.
Thuita will be suspended pending investigations into alleged irregularities in the award of tender for the construction of Ruiru II, Karimenu and Kitui Matuu water projects undertaken by the agency.
In a statement, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said that Koskei has also asked the Board of Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency to suspend its Chief Executive Officer Eng. Samuel Oruma pending investigations into alleged procurement irregularities in the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation System for the Bomet/Longisa/Mulot towns project within the jurisdiction of the agency.
“The Head of Public Service in letters to the chairmen of the two boards says the two CEOs are in office, notwithstanding the gravity of allegations and the quantum of resources under inquiry. Mr Koskei says the inordinate delay in taking action on the part of the board of directors and the ministry is undermining the government’s war against corruption,” Mohamed stated.
Thuita’s arrest
Koskei’s call for suspension of Thuita comes moments after K24 Digital revealed that he had been arrested in connection to the multi-billion scandals.
Multiple sources have confirmed that EACC pounced on him to facilitate the production of key documents in his custody after Water Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome failed to honour the Commission’s request to suspend the Athi Water boss from office.
Thuita reportedly refused to submit documents relating to a multi-billion tender scam for which he is being investigated, prompting EACC to invoke its enforcement powers to compel compliance.
K24 Digital has established that in a search operation that has lasted the whole day, detectives have combed Thuita’s homes in Wetlands and Rongai, as well as his offices on Kiambu Road and retrieved bundles of documents believed to be connected to the scandal.
The suspect is being processed at the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station.
