Graft: Governor Kibwana Awarded His Wife A Sh4M Tender

The Netizen crowned “Governor of the year”  Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana is in trouble for awarding a Ksh4 million family planning and youth empowerment tender to Nazi Kivutha, His wife.

A petition filed by a Makueni resident was presented by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina claiming the governor used his power to siphon millions of shillings in county public funds. The petition accused Kivutha of money laundering, conflict of interest and the fraudulent acquisition of public funds.

“Nazi Kivutha received two cheques totaling to approximately Sh 4 million from Makueni County Gender department for supply of girls’ sanitary towels and dinner at Panafric hotel,” The petition by a Makueni resident presented to CPAIC by Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina stated.

Shina Foundation, established in 2013 by the First Lady, Makueni County was paid the Ksh4 million in an obvious conflict of interest.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption is also looking into the governor and other top Makueni county officials over KSh1.4 billion which is suspected looted while executing county projects. The Senate County Public Accounts and Investments (CPAIC) invited the EACC to investigate the governor and the award of the 12 multi-million projects that were allegedly used to siphon public funds.

The  dossier further directed the anti-graft body to open investigations into procurement and award of at least 11 projects. According to the petition, the EACC should investigate:-

1. The Kalamba Fruit Plant, funded by the county government for a whooping Ksh1 billion which allegedly has no value for money and never benefited the people of Makueni. “It has never produced anything for the Market as it publicly purported to be. It is currently producing mineral water for an unknown water company… No revenue has been declared from the plant and not accessible to the media and public for scrutiny”

1. Thwake Bridge contract funded by the county and undertaken for the three financial years at a cost of sh 220 million. The bid was won by Prime quantifiers Limited owned by Paul Matheka who seems to be a county favorite winning many other bids before this one. “The company constructed only seven pillars clearly visible across the river and paid a total of sh 220 million in July-August 2018. A single concrete pillar cost over sh 30 million,”
2.  An imported water drilling rig from India at the cost of sh 40 million contrary to procurement regulations.
3. Chullu Valley Water Project funded at the county at a total of sh 24 million
4. Ksh10 million spent on a ghost centre – Masamukye Cultural Centre in Nguu Masumba ward
5.  Ksh40 million spent to construct a water dam along Kaiti River in Wote Ward between 2014-2016 financial years which was abandoned after getting washed away by the rain.

The Auditor General had earlier given the CEO a clean bill of health also known as an unqualified opinion, in the Makueni county executive audit report for the Financial Year 2017/18.