AfDB Debars Kenyan Firm Express Automation Limited Over Fraud

The African Development Bank Group, on 7 October 2021, announced the 36-month debarment of Express Automation Limited with effect from 18 August 2021. Express Automation Limited is a limited liability company registered under the laws of the Republic of Kenya.

An investigation conducted by the Bank’s Office of Integrity and Anti-Corruption established that Express Automation Limited engaged in fraudulent practices during a tender for the Technical Security Upgrade to the Bank’s Eastern Africa Regional Centre.

During the debarment period, Express Automation Limited and its affiliates will be ineligible to participate in Bank Group-financed projects. Additionally, the debarment qualifies for cross-debarment by other multilateral development banks under the Agreement for Mutual Enforcement of Debarment Decisions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group.

At the expiry of the debarment period, Express Automation Limited will only be eligible to resume participation in African Development Bank Group-financed projects after it implements an integrity compliance program consistent with the Bank’s guidelines.

The Technical Security Upgrade was aimed at upgrading the existing security system in the Bank’s Eastern Africa Regional Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

Express Automation said in an earlier interview its main clients are not only multinationals but also small and medium enterprises across the EAC region.

AfDB recently banned another Kenyan firm Rockey Africa Limited and its affiliates including Aerospace Aviation, Eva-Top Agencies, Sony Commercial Agencies, Beta Trading Company, and Madujey Global Services over fraud.