Why Are You Chasing Me Away- Rift Valley Water Agency CEO After Ruto Order [VIDEO]

Drama ensued on Tuesday, September 26 as Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency Chief Executive Officer Samuel Oruma was sent on leave amidst ongoing investigations into the multi-billion shillings water projects scam.

In a video shared online, police officers cornered the Central Rift Valley Water Works CEO at his office after issuing him with a suspension notice, forcefully ejecting him in the full glare of cameras.

Oruma was escorted out of the premises much to the shock of the employees and the fact that he was visibly shaken by the ordeal.

"I'll record a statement...I'm the one in charge so I'll record a statement if there is a need...but not here, I'm going to report to the police...I'll present myself," Oruma told the persistent police officer.

Here is the video courtesy of Citizen Digital:

“Why are you chasing me away and there is no scandal I have committed?” Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency CEO Samuel Oruma asks after being sent on compulsory leave over alleged procurement irregularities in the Ksh1.7b water project pic.twitter.com/oZH0CQE5ZZ — Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) September 26, 2023

Showing journalists what looked like a signed copy of his leave, Oruma walked back into his office, declaring "This is my office, I'm still in office. They want to chase me...why do they want to chase me?"

"I don't have a problem, let the investigations be done, but I need protection from the government. I don't have a problem, there's no scandal here," Oruma affirmed while bragging about the achievements he has made during his tenure as Central Rift Valley Water Works CEO.

At the same time, Oruma denied all the accusations levelled against him claiming to be the victim of a witchhunt.

"He has on several occasions written other letters not only that one, asking the same board to push the CEO out even including matters concerning tribal balance which the CEO does not really control," Oruma stated, while referring to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.

"I want to set the record straight, there is no money lost in Bomet block. The investigation being done is about the tendering process which was done by my predecessor. I only got to be the CEO when the project is ongoing," he declared regarding the Bomet Project graft allegations.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is investigating Oruma over allegations of irregular award of tender for the construction of a water and sanitation system for Bomet - Longisa - Mulot Towns to China Railways No. 10 Engineering Group Ltd at a cost of Ksh1.7 billion.

Oruma’s woes may be compounded by allegations that he irregularly and fraudulently approved the change of Specifications from the use of Steel Pipes to the use of Glass Reinforced Pipes (GRP) for the project.

This is in spite of the concerns that were raised over the GRP pipes which are said to be inferior in terms of quality and much cheaper compared to steel pipes.

It is said that as part of the justification by Oruma for issuing a green light for the proposal for a change of pipe material, was that GRP pipes would save up to 2.5 per cent of the project cost with a reduced construction period of nine months.

EACC is seeking to unravel the depth of the multi-billion shillings scandal in a project that was launched in April 2022 and was set to benefit over 200,000 residents in Bomet Central and Chepalungu constituencies in Bomet County.

In a letter dated May 23 2023, EACC instructed the CEO to furnish the commission with 28 crucial documents to assist in investigations key among them: Budget estimates, procurement plans, tender documents including the advertisements, bid documents, documents detailing the tender evaluation committee and minutes of their meetings, signed contracts reports, payment vouchers and receipts among others.

The gravity of the allegations coupled with the amount under question, forced Koskei to call for Oruma's suspension pending investigations into alleged procurement irregularities.

Koskei also asked the Board of the Athi Water Works Development Agency to suspend its Chief Executive Officer Eng. Michael Thuita pending investigations into alleged irregularities in the award of tender for construction of Ruiru II, Karimenuand Kitui Matuu water projects undertaken by the agency.

Thuita however resigned instead amidst pressure from the government calling for his suspension over allegations of abusing office to secure tender projects valued at Ksh50 billion.