NAIROBI, Kenya-The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested six former government officials and contractors over an irregular stadium systems contract awarded ahead of the 2018 African Nations Championship.
The suspects are linked to the award and payment of a contract for the supply and installation of security, access control, communications, audio-visual and pitch lighting systems at several stadiums in Kenya.
The State Department for Sports Development awarded the contract in 2017 to Auditel Kenya, a Spanish company registered in Kenya.
The contract was valued at $15.89 million, approximately Sh1.5 billion at the time.
According to EACC, an advance payment of $3.15 million, equivalent to about Sh330 million, was made to the company despite the contract not having been procured in accordance with the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015.
The anti-graft agency said the company subsequently failed to fulfil its contractual obligations, resulting in the loss of Sh330 million in public funds.
“The Commission further established that the funds were transferred through various entities in an effort to conceal their source and facilitate their movement back to Kenya,” EACC said.
Those arrested include former State Department for Sports Development Principal Secretary Peter Kirimi Kaberia and former Principal Accountant Enock Ondwari Onditi.
Others are Ministry of Education Senior Principal Finance Officer Stephen Njoroge Muthuma, Sports Kenya Senior Superintendent Engineer John Kiende Ruga and Taxwise Africa Consulting partner Samuel Mbaa Njoroge.
Former Instalaciones Inabensa employee Anthony Mwangi Kimathi was also arrested.
EACC said the six were expected to be arraigned before the Milimani Anti-Corruption Court in Nairobi later on Tuesday.
They face charges including conspiracy to commit an economic crime, unlawful acquisition of public property, money laundering and abuse of office.
The commission said it completed its investigations and forwarded the inquiry file to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who approved charges against public officials, company directors and other people linked to the contract.
EACC has also directed four other suspects to report immediately to Integrity Centre in Nairobi or the nearest commission office for processing.
They are former State Department for Sports Development Director of Administration Harun Komen Chebet, Auditel Ingenieria Y Servicios Director Marcos Gonzalez Puente and former Football Kenya Federation Audit Committee member Kitheka Muema.
Automobile business consultant Ephraim Muchangi Kinyua has also been ordered to surrender to the commission.
EACC said it had separately instituted civil proceedings seeking to recover and forfeit public funds and assets allegedly acquired using proceeds linked to the transaction.
The arrests form part of the commission’s investigation into expenditure incurred as Kenya prepared to host the 2018 CHAN tournament.
“EACC remains committed to protecting public resources and ensuring that public officers and other persons entrusted with public resources are held accountable when they abuse their positions for private gain,” Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud said.
