Team probes validity of Willy Mutunga house value

Members of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee inspect a residential house in Runda meant to be the official residence of Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on July 2, 2014. PHOTO | EVANS HABIL

What you need to know:

  • The Judiciary tender committee on March 27, 2013 awarded Johnson Nduya Muthama Holdings a tender for a furnished house at a cost of Sh310 million.
  • Committee members claim the house was bought at twice the market value and have questioned how the cost was cut from Sh425 million to Sh310 million.

A Parliamentary team is investigating possible collusion between the Judiciary and a valuer in the purchase of a Sh310 million house for the Chief Justice.

This follows revelations by the valuer, Ms Nelly Ng’ang’a, that she gave an opinion on the Runda house after a general assessment.

Her evidence before the Public Accounts Committee appeared to confirm a report by the Auditor-General that payment for the house, owned by a senator, was done without an authentic valuation. The Judiciary tender committee on March 27, 2013 awarded Johnson Nduya Muthama Holdings a tender for a furnished house at a cost of Sh310 million.

In May 2013, a Judicial Service Commission meeting approved the price on the basis of a valuation and security survey done by consultants.

Lawyer Andrew Karani for Muthama Holdings told the committee the transaction was purely a business decision.

“Whether the procurement was flawed was never an issue, the choice of residence was never faulted,” he said. “I believe the company has no case to answer.”

The lawyer said the company had offered two properties and the Judiciary settled on the Runda one, which was priced at Sh425 million, but negotiated downwards.

Committee members claim the house was bought at twice the market value and have questioned how the cost was cut from Sh425 million to Sh310 million.