EACC to quiz nine Kenya Power directors over tenders

The anti-graft agency has lined up nine Kenya Power board members for questioning, over alleged interference in the management’s work as well as award of tenders.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission boss Twalib Mbarak has summoned the members to appear before detectives at Integrity Centre and record statements on their roles in the allegations levelled against them.

“The commission is investigating allegations of interference in procurement processes by the board of directors,” the summoning letter addressed to board chairman Vivienne Yeda states.

A statement from Kenya Power acknowledged receipt of the letter, adding that the firm is confident that board members copied will honour the invite.

“Written responses have been submitted to all questions from EACC. They now appear to want individual statements from all directors.

"Basically, it is an attempt by procurement cartels to prevent queries raised by the board into insurance and meter tenders entered into by management from being addressed,” KPLC said in a statement.

The statement indicated that the questioning of directors is part of the fight back plans by cartels who are against the reforms at the loss making power giant.

On Tuesday, Abdulrazaq Ali, Caroline Kittony and Njoroge Muhu are required to appear before the investigators.

Three other board members -Elizabeth Rogo, Kairo Thuo and Sachen Gudka are set to appear on Wednesday.

Thursday has been reserved for chairman Yeda, Isaac Kiva and Humprey Muhu.

Abdulrazaq, Rogo , Kittony, Yeda and Gudka were appointed in July last year as non-executive directors.

The probe comes in the wake of complaints lodged to the anti-graft agency that some board members have been holding brief for powerful businessmen.

In a letter dated June 6, tipping the EACC to step in, the businessmen complained of a section of the board members who are working under the instructions of a highly connected individual in the energy sector.

“KPLC faces great interference since the board members have massive conflict of interests. There is a super chairman who has been walking around claiming to have personally pushed for the appointments through his links to State House.

"The super chairman has a mission to reorganise KPLC and position it for personal gains with his board contacts,” the letter to EACC stated.

“We therefore urgently request investigation into interference of management through directives and countless meetings against the guidance of Mwongozo on the role of the board.

"These meetings intend to position investors who can take care of their interests. The allowances of the illegal meetings should be recovered and the board charged for the illegal gains,” the letter states.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)