NSSF chiefs being probed over project

The anti-corruption watchdog is investigating senior NSSF officials over the multi-billion-shilling housing project in Nairobi’s Tassia estate.

The Head of communications at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Mr Yasin Aila, confirmed that investigations into the Sh5 billion National Social Security Fund (NSSF) project has been going on.

“Even before the Ombudsman report, we have been on this matter all this time, but we cannot talk about it further at this time until the investigators have completed work,” he said.

Responsible

The Commission on Administrative Justice, the Ombudsman, last week recommended to the commission to hold NSSF boss Richard Lang’at responsible for the mess in the housing project.

The agency asked the anti-corruption team to determine whether the irregularities in the tender approval for project constituted “corrupt intent” of the NSSF board and management.

The commission sought to have a tender awarded to China Jiangxi International for the multi-billion-shilling cancelled, claiming it was marred with irregularities.

Mr Otiende Amolo, the Ombudsman, referred to a complaint by Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli in January over “irregular approval of the project and flawed procurement processes.”

He further wrote to the NSSF managing trustee , Mr Lang’at, to inform him of the complaints.

“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 a report by the watchdog 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.

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