Govt Orders Six CEOs, 67 Police Officers Suspended Over Corruption

The Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has directed the suspension of six Chief Executive Officers (CEO) for alleged involvement in corruption and procurement irregularities within their respective institutions.

He has additionally directed the suspension of 67 police officers and an accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).

According to a statement by State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohamed on Thursday, November 16, the directives follow recommendations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for the suspension of the officers, who are currently under investigation.

"The EACC has written to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation, Hon. Zachariah Njeru, recommending the suspension of Eng. Fredrick Mwamati, the Chief Executive Officer of the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency.

"Mr Mwamati is under investigation for procurement irregularities in the award of a tender for the construction of a Leather Industrial Park Water Supply Project," read the statement in part

The Anti-Corruption Commission has also written to the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Florence Bore, to suspend Stephen Ogenga, the Director-General of the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA), for alleged procurement irregularities in the award of a tender for supplies at NITA.

Similarly, the commission has written to the Board of the National Museums of Kenya to suspend Stanvas Ong'alo, the Acting Director-General, for alleged embezzlement of Ksh490 million through irregular payments.

In another letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, Hon. Moses Kuria, the EACC has recommended the suspension of Benjamin Kai Chilumo, the CEO of Huduma Centre Secretariat.

"Mr. Chilumo is under investigation for corruption allegations when he served in the County Government of Kilifi as the Chief Finance Officer," added the statement.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has also written to the Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, Aisha Jumwa, recommending the suspension of Peter Gitaa Koria, the CEO/GM of Bomas of Kenya, for allegations of procurement irregularities in supplies for the institution.

Additionally, the EACC has called for the suspension of Eng. Anthony Wamukota, the General Manager of Design & Construction at Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO), for alleged procurement irregularities related to the construction contract of the 400KV Loiyangalani Power Project.

The commission has also written to the Director-General of KeRRA, Engineer Philemon Kandie, to suspend Esther Wanjiru Chege, an accountant at the institution, for alleged conflict of interest and possession of unexplained wealth. In these letters, the EACC states that the continued stay in office of the mentioned officers during the investigation will interfere with and undermine its work.

Furthermore, the EACC has asked the Inspector-General of Police, Japhet Koome, to suspend 67 police officers implicated in corruption-related malpractices.

"In issuing the directives, the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service emphasises that the Government remains firm in its commitment to eradicating corruption which, he maintains, undermines its development agenda," Mohamed concluded.