No where to run as the Kenya Pipeline Company boss Joe Sang, who was arrested earlier on Friday, is to be charged with abuse of office, the Director of Public Prosecutions has said.
The DPP has laid out a list of all the charges that Joe Sang and crew will face. Among them include Abuse of office contrary to section 46 as read with section 48.The Anti-Corruption and economic crimes Act No 3 of 2003.
Another one is willful failure to comply with applicable procedures.There is also engaging in a project without prior planning.
“The inquiry file relates to allegations of misappropriation of funds in the course of procurement and construction of the Kisumu Oil Jetty by Kenya Pipeline Company Limited at a cost of over Ksh.2billion,” DPP Noordin Haji said.
The DPP added that he is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to support the charges that also include engaging in a project without prior planning.
Sang is expected to be appear in court on Monday alongside five other Kenya Pipeline Company officials.
They are Gloria Robai Khafafa (Company Secretary), Vincent Korir Cheruiyot (General Manager Supply Chain), Billy Letunya Aseka (General Manager Infrastructure), Nicholas Gitobu (Procurement Manager) and Samuel Odoyo (General Manager Finance).
The Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti stated that they want to establish how the project was arrived at and how money allocated to it was spent.
Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) contracted South Engineering Company (SECO) through tender numberKPC/PU006-0T/17 to construct the Kisumu Oil Jetty which was meant to facilitate the transportation of oil through Lake Victoria to Uganda and Tanzania.
While Kenya has completed the same, the two neighbouring countries of Uganda and Tanzania have neither tendered for the construction of their end nor even shown willingness to do the same.
But of interest is the wanton waste and fraud pushed through by the KPC Chairman John Ngumi.
According to insiders, Kenya Pipeline bought all materials meant to be used to construct the jetty in 2001, just two years before the departure of President Daniel Arap Moi. 50% of the materials were stored at the KPC yard in Industrial Area, Nairobi, while the remaining were kept at the facility in Kisumu.
In 2016, John Ngumi started demanding “kitu cha kuuma” (something to chew) from key engineers in the state company, saying that he must also find something he can benefit from. Despite enjoying all manner of perks from the company including Ksh 2million salary (remember he is not an executive chairman) and various other benefits, he continually demanded other deals and forced through the Kisumu Jetty deal.
Do you believe the suspects will completely go down for this saga?