Governor Evans Kidero kin linked to City Hall lifts project

A picture of City Hall in Nairobi County taken on September 14, 2015. A company contracted to repair three lifts in City Hall has Governor Evans Kidero’s relative as one of its directors. PHOTO | GERALD ANDERSON | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Munji named Symmon Kidero, who is a relative to the governor, as one of the directors of the company.
  • Mr Obiero said the lifts’ spare parts were shipped from abroad.

A company contracted to repair three lifts in City Hall has Governor Evans Kidero’s relative as one of its directors.

This was revealed by Schindler Company’s technical engineer, Mr Isaac Munji, when he appeared before the County Assembly Public Accounts Committee.

Mr Munji had been asked by committee member Robert Mbatia to name the directors of the company when he cited Mr Symmon Kidero, who is a relative of the governor.

The company has been in the spotlight after it was given a contract of Sh28.8 million to repair three lifts at City Hall Annex building.

The contract was single-sourced.

The committee last week summoned the county’s procurement director, Mr Solomon Obiero, and asked him why they did not buy new lifts with the same amount.

Mr Obiero said the lifts’ spare parts were shipped from abroad.

Mr Obiero said that when Schindler Company was awarded a contract to install the lifts 35 years ago, the governor’s kin was not working there.

In the auditor-general’s report, tabled before the assembly, City Hall had made a down payment of Sh15.4 million upfront to Schindler to buy spares for repairing the lifts.

On Wednesday, the committee pressed Mr Munji and the company’s field operations manager, Mr John Mathu, to explain why the lifts were not working by the time the auditor’s report was being prepared.

“All lifts in City Hall, City Hall Annex and in all county establishments have been fully serviced and are now safe for all to use," said Mr Mathu.