Kimunya and Mwakwere face probe over RVR deal

Two Cabinet ministers may find themselves on the receiving end of investigators if recommendations by a parliamentary committee are implemented.
Trade minister Amos Kimunya and his Transport counterpart Chirau Ali Mwakwere are among officials whose roles in the concessioning of the Kenya Railways Corporation have raised more questions than answers, and who face an investigation by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission.

This is the second time unlucky for Mr Kimunya, who was put on the spot by another parliamentary committee over the controversial sale of the Grand Regency Hotel (renamed Laico Regency).

The Public Investments Committee has asked the Parliamentary Committee on Implementation to follow up on recommendations that KACC opens investigations into the roles Mr Kimunya and Mr Mwakwere played in awarding Rift Valley Railways the concession to manage the Kenya-Uganda railway network.

The report also recommends that KACC, in addition to the two ministers, should investigate Treasury permanent secretary Joseph Kinyua and Investments secretary Esther Koimett for their role in the concession.

It further recommends the immediate termination of the contract and that the operations be reverted to the Kenya Railways Corporation.

PIC chairman Mithuka Lintuli on Monday told the Nation his committee had forwarded its recommendations to the implementation committee to ensure that they were acted upon.

Committee member David Were (Matungu MP) hoped that PIC’s recommendations would be “taken seriously”.

“Since Parliament has adopted the report, we are hoping that our recommendations will be acted upon by the relevant bodies, including the Treasury where the matter originated, and the implementation committee,” he said.