KAA chiefs cleared of graft claims

The Kenya Airports Authority’s Sh56 billion terminal project at the JKIA has been cleared of corruption allegations.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Tuesday recommended that the file on the Greenfields terminal be closed.

This came as the commission said it requires an additional month to conclude all the 124 corruption cases that it has been investigating for the past two months.

The EACC, in four files that include that of Nairobi Senator Mike Sonko submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions, said allegations of corruption against former KAA managing director Stephen Gichuki and three top managers be dropped.

Mr Gichuki and top KAA managers John Thumbi, Philemon Chamwada and Allan Muturi were under investigation for flouting the provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposals Act in the tendering of the Greenfield terminal project, which is expected to handle 20 million passengers in a year.

The tender for the JKIA terminal attracted three firms from Kenya, 12 Chinese, four European and three from other African countries. Anhui Construction Engineering Group (ACEG) and state-owned ChinaEngineering Corporation (Catic) emerged the winner.

Competing interests for the tender, however, saw Mr Gichuki suspended, reinstated by the court and later retired after the board — then chaired by Martin Wambora, now Embu governor — raised eyebrows on how the award had been expedited.

Regarding Mr Sonko’s conduct at the Mtwapa weighbridge in December last year, the EACC recommended that the CID carry out more investigations and that the Senate should take appropriate disciplinary action against the flamboyant Nairobi senator.

Earlier in the day, EACC Chief Executive Officer Halakhe Waqo said some of the cases needed international support, which means more time is required for investigations.

FINAL SAY

Dr Waqo also clarified that no Cabinet Secretary is off the hook, insisting that the final say on the cases lies with DPP Keriako Tobiko.
“We forwarded the cases to DPP on Monday, with our recommendations. The DPP will look at the files and give us his recommendations,” he said.

He said Cabinet secretaries have several corruption cases and therefore should wait for complete investigations into all the cases.
“Those that you are talking about having been cleared have still other pending corruption allegation cases,” Dr Waqo said.

On Monday, the EACC recommended the prosecution of Cabinet secretaries Kazungu Kambi (Labour) and Michael Kamau (Transport) for abuse of office.

However, it cleared Cabinet Secretaries Charity Ngilu (Land) and Felix Koskei.
Dr Waqo said the DPP has provided about 15 officers to work with the EACC.

He was speaking at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi during an EACC stakeholder’s forum for validation of the proposed framework for monitoring compliance with Chapter Six of the Constitution.

The commission’s 60 days of investigation into the “List of Shame” ended on Tuesday, with 56 files having been finalised and 21 others forwarded to Mr Tobiko.

Dr Waqo disclosed that the commission was in the process of pursuing amendments to strengthen the Leadership and Integrity Act to address the weaknesses that cause implementation challenges. He added that the EACC has witnessed significant strides towards compliance with the provisions of the Act.

“We have received applications and processed approvals for operating bank accounts outside Kenya from over 300 public officers,” he said.
He added that there have also been several requests for vetting under the performance contracting framework by individuals seeking employment in public office.