The Statehouse Cartel That Attempted To Extort Sh200M From Businessman Seeking A Sh30B Deal

State House, Nairobi

Reports doing rounds that three people were arrested by the police over extortion plot from a business deal in the house up the hill. The two men based at the Statehouse mutually with a police officer were plotting to get Sh.200M as the kickback from a businessman who was seeking the audience with the president over a Sh30B tender.

According to a source at Statehouse talking to Kenya Insights, the two officers based at the procurement offices are identified as Mumu and Kiprop and the Police officers unnamed.

The trio was on NIS radar for sometimes and on fateful day, flying squad officers were deployed just when they were set to receive the millions from the businessman. President Uhuru himself has admitted his Office is one of the most corrupt departments in the government and has been trying to straighten the curves. The latest incident is a good gesture in the right track.

From history, dubious businessmen conspire with state officials to get away with unethical business practices as tax evasion. The procurement department in the Office of the President is one of the filthiest with the 10% syndrome being at an all time real. Corruption is high in these offices that to score a tender, and you have to part with 10% of the tender value.

In the year 2012/2013, one individual in the Office of the President – a Mr Ben Kihia – withdrew Sh2.85 billion from public coffers, for alleged confidential expenditure in the military. The PAC report says the transfer of funds was unauthorised and irregular, the expenditure unexplained and unaccounted for. The man withdrawing the Sh2.85 billion had no authority to do so. Confidential expenditure of this kind was the reserve of the NIS, CID and GSU. Yet this individual singularly generated, examined, approved and made the withdrawals.

On February 26, 2013, alone, he withdrew Sh130 million. On his own, right people! The Office of the President gave him a certificate of clearance. Nobody knows what he did with your money! Now consider that this man has since been transferred to the Ministry of Industrialisation. But he has defied the transfer and remained in the Office of the President.

Corruption in this office has been since time in history, and President Kenyatta was aware when he took over. However, inheriting a corrupt system, the President doesn’t have any justification for not dot a total overhaul unless he’s approving that the cartel is stronger than him.

Booking for an audience with the president is a munching venture, corrupt Statehouse operatives use this opening to extort from mostly potential investors and other business related guests. This is an unfortunate reality that can be attested to by those who’ve undergone and also the latest victim who was to part with Sh200M just to booked for a meeting with the President.