Ex-water chief faces Sh600m charge
FILE | Nation
Mr Mutuku Nzesya (centre), who was Tanathi Water Services Board chief executive briefs Water minister Charity Ngilu (left) and permanent secretary David Stower on the technical designs of the Sh1 billion Umaa dam in Kitui district. Mr Nzesya is to be charged with corruption.
A former head of a water services board will be taken to court on Monday over the irregular award of a Sh610 million tender.
Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission spokesman Nicholas Simani said the former chief executive of Tanathi Water Services Board Joseph Nzesya would be charged together with two former district water officers in charge of Kibwezi and Kathani.
“They will be charged in Embu with abuse of office and conflict of interest,” he said. This is because the crimes in question were committed in the Eastern province headquarters where Tanathi has its head office.
Highly placed sources at the State Law Office confirmed that they had forwarded the files back to the KACC recommending that it opens prosecutions against the officers after assessing the evidence presented by Kacc.
“We have given them the files to go ahead with prosecutions but I cannot reveal the names of the individuals to be charged because it is premature to do so at this point in time,” said the source.
The move follows investigations conducted by the anti-graft body into allegations of corruption, nepotism and abuse of office at the Water Ministry following complaints lodged by Public Works Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri.
Mr Kiunjuri, who served as an assistant minister under Ms Ngilu, had accused her of irregularly influencing the award of contracts for supplies and services to her close relatives.
He also accused the Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Mr David Stower, of a conspiracy to cover up corrupt deeds.
The Parliamentary Committee on Lands and Natural Resources chaired by Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi also investigated the allegations and found no evidence linking both Ms Ngilu and Mr Stower to corruption.
The committee however recommended the prosecution of Mr Nzesya for irregular award of tenders, conflict of interest, irregular procurement of goods and services and abuse of office touching on procurement services worth Sh610 million.
The committee further wanted Mr Nzesya surcharged to recover lost public funds, alongside other former officials found to have embezzled public funds during their tenure at the water body.
