Water scandal: Ngilu on the spot over tenders
Water Minister Charity Ngilu in Kisumu on August 17, 2008. The claims of corruption at the ministry emerged after former Water assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri said he had been transferred to Public Work due to his efforts to stem the vice. Photo/FILE
Two companies owned by Cabinet minister Charity Ngilu’s relatives have been involved in business deals with the Water and Irrigation Development ministry which she heads.
One of the companies also did business with a parastatal at the Health ministry when she was in charge.
Listed as directors of GL Williams and Falconet Technologies Limited are Mrs Ngilu’s niece, daughter and son in-law.
Investigations by the Nation showed that GL Williams had received at least Sh50 million from government agencies since January 2004 for various contracts. The company is registered as a marketing consultancy.
The GL Williams won a contract for “fitting out and partitioning” the National Hospital Insurance Fund building in Nairobi.
The contract was worth about Sh35 million, and Mrs Ngilu was Health minister.
The firm has also won jobs with the National Irrigation Board, a parastatal under the Water ministry, for which it was paid Sh17.9 million.
The National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation also awarded contracts to the company worth more than Sh2.8 million.
The companies have been doing business with the Water parastatals, although they could be qualified to offer the services.
Government contracts are advertised and awarded competitively.
The dealings could, however, raise questions of nepotism in the award of tenders.
The claims of corruption at the ministry emerged after former Water assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri said he had been transferred to Public Work due to his efforts to stem the vice at Maji House.
The matter has since become the subject of investigation by Parliament’s Committee on Lands and Natural Resources.
- 1992 – Wins Kitui Central seat on Democratic Party ticket
- 1997 – Contests presidency under Social Democratic Party
- 2002 – Forms Narc together with Mwai Kibaki, Wamalwa Kijana and Raila Odinga. Coalition candidate Mwai Kibaki wins presidency
- 2007 – Supports ODM in General Election
- 2008 - Appointed Water and Irrigation minister under the Grand Coalition Government
