Gatundu South Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Kuria allegedly awarded Sh100 million from his Constituencies Development Fund (CDF) to his close family and friends during his first term as MP.
The companies used to receive these tenders were all newly registered right after Kuria was elected as MP and went ahead to secure all the tenders. A total of about 14 companies formed between 2014 and 2015 won at least Sh100 million from 31 tenders that were advertised for building schools and funded either by the CDF or jointly with the Ministry of Education.
Kuria’s constituency received Sh365,204,334 between the 2014/2015 and 2017/2018 financial years when the contracts in question were issued.
Aloise Kinyanjui Kuria, an officer at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) office is Kuria’s brother and also co-owns Finish Line Construction Ltd, which received a Sh5.7 million contract to build four classrooms at Ituuru High School. Kinyanjui owns 50 pc shareholding in the company while the other half is owned by a Mr Sammy Andrew Kamau.
Finish Line Construction Ltd was formed in October 28, 2014 and was listed as being involved in constructing buildings, houses, apartments and repairs. The company further won a couple of other tenders to build Gikure, Githaruru, Wamwangi and Karinga secondary schools in 2015.
Supreme General Traders was registered on November 4, 2014 by a James Kogi Kuria and John Ngigi Kuria, the company was awarded a Sh5,822,822 tender to build four storeyed classrooms at Mutunguru Secondary.
Numerical Strength Ltd was registered on August 13, 2014 and is owned by a John Ngigi Kuria and Monica Ngonyo Ngendo. The company was awarded a Sh25 million tender to put up a school laboratory at Muhoho High School and another Sh5.9 million tender to build a dormitory at Gitare Secondary.
Lujatech Enterprises Ltd was was registered one month before the tenders were dished out on July 8, 2015 to Tresia Mwihaki Regeru, Charles Regeru Nguru, Lucy Wambui Regeru and Jane Muthoni Regeru. The company was awarded tenders to put up a dormitory at Ngenda Secondary and Gathuri Secondary at Sh5.3 million and Sh4.9 million respectively.
one of the owners at Lujatech, Charles Regeru Nguru co ownsa Mwaura Timber Yard, which won construction contracts at Gathiru Secondary, Gatiru Day and Nembu Secondary.
Ms Kiki Holding Ltd was registered on December 22, 2009 to a Jane Wambui Kuria, a police officer. The company received a tender of about Sh10 million tender to build a dormitory block at Kiamwangi Secondary and Wamwangi Secondary.
According to the Nation the companies present a conflict of interest since they are all owned by people close to the MP and were awarded the tenders without due process.
In what is a worrying trend, The Netizen crowned “Governor of the year” Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana was recently in trouble for awarding a Sh4 million family planning and youth empowerment tender to Nazi Kivutha, His wife.
Chapter 12 of the Public Officer Ethics act bars a public officer “from awarding a contract or influencing the award of a contract to himself, a spouse or relative, business associate or a corporation, partnership or any other body which the officer has interest.”
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