The Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has ordered the suspension of six parastatal heads over alleged graft dealings.
In a statement on Thursday, November 16, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said the directive follows recommendations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for the suspension of the officers, who are currently under investigation.
Koskei, who doubles up as State House Chief of Staff, also directed the suspension of 67 police officers and an accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) over similar offences.
The chief executive officers (CEOs) on the EACC radar are Fredrick Mwamati (Tanathi Water Works Development Agency), Stephen Ogenga (National Industrial Training Authority), Stanvas Ong’alo (National Museums of Kenya) and Benjamin Kai Chilumo (Huduma Centre Secretariat).
Others are Peter Gitaa Koria, the CEO of Bomas of Kenya, and Anthony Wamukota, the General Manager of Design & Construction at Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO).
The EACC has written to the respective cabinet secretaries to suspend the officers serving under their ministries.
“The EACC has written to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, Hon. Zachariah Njeru, recommending the suspension of Eng. Fredrick Mwamati, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency. Mr Mwamati is under investigation for procurement irregularities in the award of a tender for the construction of a Leather Industrial Park Water Supply Project,” Mohamed said.
“The Anti-Corruption Commission has also written to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Hon Florence Bore, to suspend Mr Stephen Ogenga, the Director-General of the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), for alleged procurement irregularities in the award of a tender for supplies at NITA.”
The third suspect, National Museum of Kenya boss Ong’alo, is under investigation for alleged embezzlement of Ksh490 million through irregular payments.
EACC has recommended sacking of Huduma Centre’s Chilumo for corruption allegations when he served in the County Government of Kilifi as the Chief Finance Officer.
On the other hand, Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, Hon. Aisha Jumwa, has been directed to suspend Bomas of Kenya boss for allegations of procurement irregularities in supplies for the Institution.
“Additionally, the EACC has called for the suspension of Eng. Anthony Wamukota, the General Manager of Design & Construction at Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), for alleged procurement irregularities related to the construction contract of the 400KV Loiyangalani Power Project,” Mohamed added.
The commission also wants the Director-General of KeRRA, Engineer Philemon Kandle, to suspend Esther Wanjiru Chege, an accountant at the institution, for alleged conflict of interest and possession of unexplained wealth.
“In these letters, the EACC states that the continued stay in office of the mentioned officers during the investigation will interfere with and undermine its work,” Mohamed announced.
“Furthermore, the EACC has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Japhet Koome, to suspend 67 police officers implicated in corruption-related malpractices.”
Koskei noted that the suspensions affirm the government’s commitment to eradicating corruption which undermines its development agenda.
