EACC Summons Murathe, Kiraitu’s And Rege Over Kemsa Scandal

In a turn of events that is likely to excite DP’s camp, David Murathe who has been a thorn in the flesh for Ruto and his cronies, has been summoned by the  anti corruption agency for questioning over allegations that a firm Kilig Ltd in which he’s the bank’s signatory, was irregularly awarded a Sh4B tender to supply Kemsa with PPEs.

According to the allegations, Kilig Ltd which was registered only this year January 22, was not listed amongst prequalified firms to supply Kemsa. However, it’s unexplainable how it happened but likely through tender manipulation and high ranking mobilization, the Jubilee Deputy Party Leader’s firm was handpicked and awarded the supply tender of 450,000 PPEs at Sh9,000 each.

On January 22, 2020, Wilbroad Gatei Gachoka(brother you’re Tony Gachoka) had Kilig Limited registered with a Chinese National Zhu Jinping of P O Box 36814-00200 Nairobi. On June 16, 2020, Kilig Limited after landing a lucrative deal at Kemsa, engaged a firm Entec Technology Company Ltd of P O Box 37925-00100 Nairobi, to deliver PPE kits to Kemsa from China at the price of USD 28,535,000 that is Sh3 billion.

John Mburu who’s associated with Entec remotely and was to clear the goods with KCB funding the tender. Kilig Limited having brokered the tender from Kemsa at Sh4 billion played it safe by involving Entec thus not being responsible for any criminal or legal implication. Those in the deal were to share a cool Sh1.2 billion supposedly.

Entec was to supply PPE sets in two dispatches. First were 200,000 kits on June 28 2020 and the second installment of 239,000 on July 10, 2020.

To avoid any suspicion in the dealing, Kilig was to enter an Escrow Account Management Agreement with Entec Technology.

Here once Kemsa paid Kilig, it was mandatory for it to pay Entec. Here KCB was brought in the deal. Why? KCB being a public bank was to fall under the pressure of political wheeler-dealers. Entec Technology in the documents signed with Kilig gave bank account details where its payments were to be forwarded. The said account transacts business in USD is Stanbic Bank, Westgate Branch.

Reports indicate, after Kemsa scams erupted and went public, no payments were made to escrow account. Fearing arrest, Gatei and Zhu Jinping moved shares of Kilig Limited to a city young lawyer as a major shareholder.

Grapevine have it that Gatei and Ivy Minyow Onyango, the young lawyer are lovers. In documents, Gatei did not change the firm contacts. Kilig Limited enjoyed direct procurement. Manjari signed the award letter with a three months grace period to deliver the goods. The trouble started when then Kemsa procurement director Charles Juma wrote to Manjari twice in April and June raising que0stions over why Kilig was given direct procurement for a tender that was to be competitive. By then, word had spread, Kemsa was liquid. By then, Mochache had written to Manjari in relation to an audit of procurement made on behalf of the ministry relating to Covid-19 payments using World Bank Funds.

Kemsa CEO recently accused CS Mutahi and PS Mochache of asserting pressure and singling our firms that they wanted to be argued the supply Contracts that has now blown out to a full scandals.

Acting under the instructions of the President to have a conclusive report on Kemsa scandal in 21 days, Kenya Insights has learnt that David Murathe, the family of Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi and former Karachuonyo MP James Rege are amongst persons of interests that have been lined up by EACC for questioning over their involvement with the medical supplies authority.

Meru Governor’s family, his wife and son were involved in the tendering through their firm Caperina Enterprises where they were awarded a Sh45M tender to supply Kemsa with surgical face masks.

Eng. Rege who’s the current board chairman for KETRACO is also set for grilling. His firm Duke Agencies was awarded a contract to supply Kemsa with 20,000 PPEs at Sh9,000 scoring Sh180M deal.

Rege is not new to procurement scams, he was arrested and arraigned in court over a tender irregularity in Karachuonyo CDF worth Sh2M.