Agency wants NSSF Sh5bn tender probed

A view of Tassia, Nairobi. FILE PHOTO | DENISH OCHIENG |

By  NGARE KARIUKI

What you need to know:

  • Ombudsman says Lang’at should be held responsible for the mess in the housing project
  • Attempts to get a response from Lang’at were unsuccessful by the time of going to press

A justice watchdog wants the NSSF boss investigated over the controversial Sh5 billion housing project at a city estate.

The Commission on Administrative Justice said on Thursday NSSF boss Richard Lang’at should be held responsible for the mess in the Tassia II housing project.

The agency asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to determine whether the irregularities in the tender approval for project constituted “corrupt intent” on the part of the NSSF board and management.

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“The commission wants the NSSF board to cancel a tender awarded to China Jiangxi International in the Sh5.053 billion Infrastructure Development project as the tendering process was marred with irregularities,” said commission chairman Otiende Amollo.

He continued: “NSSF management should also account for money amounting to Sh11,244,000 purportedly paid to the county government.” (READ: Tassia plan flawed, NSSF now admits)

'FLAWED PROCUREMENT'

Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli in January filed a complaint with the Ombudsman over what he termed “irregular approval of [Tassia II housing] project and flawed procurement processes.”

The Ombudsman then wrote to acting (now appointed) Managing Trustee Richard Lang’at to inform him of the complaints but he was “unresponsive.”

“Mr Lang’at declined to honour initial invitations by the CAJ and also ignored two formal invitations for an interview during the investigations process,” said the report by the commission.

Mr Lang’at later submitted a copy of a receipt for Sh11,244,000 that was reportedly paid to Nairobi County as fee for inspection and submission of the project plan.

But the Ombudsman confirmed that the Managing Trustee had misled the commission since the “receipt” submitted was in fact an invoice.

The NSSF management reportedly sidelined the employees’ representative Jacqueline Mugo and the Finance, Social Security and Investment Committee in the approval process.

The Ombudsman recommended that Mr Lang’at be held responsible for the flawed tendering and prosecuted for abuse of power.

Attempts to get a response from Mr Lang’at were unsuccessful by the time of going to press. (READ: Price of Tassia land inflated: ex-NSSF boss)

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