It all started with claims of a raid at his home by EACC detectives, claims he would later term as untrue and malicious. Najib Balala is a man on the spot over the role he played in the controversial awarding of a 100 million tender to the American Society of Travel Agents.
ASTA was allegedly single-sourced by the ministry to offer unspecified services during ASTA Expo Conference that was held in Nairobi in February 2017.
Due to the allegations against him, the CS was summoned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption as investigations into the illegal tender award continues.
“The commission is conducting investigations into allegations of irregular award of contract to ASTA Kenya for hosting of ASTA 2017 Destination Expo Conference and a further sponsorship of Sh100 million for the conference,” the letter summoning the CS reads.
The CS would however fail to appear before the anti-corruption officers despite being expected at the Integrity Center on Monday by 9am.
The CS skipped the session and instead wrote to the commission stating that he had scheduled official events that coincided with the summons.
“He wrote to us asking if we can reschedule the sitting because he has several events lined up this week. So we will look at his plans and invite him at an appropriate date,” EACC communications officer Yasin Amaro said.
Balala spent the day in Kisumu attending a regional tourism stakeholders forum. He landed in the lakeside city on Sunday evening.