The alleged mastermind of multi million irregular tenders at the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) under investigations will today be arraigned in Anti-Corruption court to face fraud and economic crimes charges.
Little known Francis Amina Juma, a senior welder and perceived overly influential to senior managers was seized on Friday night by detectives attached to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and booked at Kileleshwa police cells where he spent the night.
He was picked on Saturday at 9am for interrogation in connection with the Sh600million controversial contract awarded to Areo Dispenser Valve Limited by KPC in 2014.
The deal is said to have been a conduit of fleecing taxpayers money in in shady tendering deals.
“Yes he was booked at Kileleshwa Police Station overnight for holding purposes but he was picked by CID officers.” A senior officer intimated.
The matter is also under probe by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (Eacc) over highly intricate graft masterminded by insiders through fictitious firms who inflated prices for spares for a hydrant system.
In a letter dated February 19, 2015 the firm in question Aero Dispenser Valve Ltd, was awarded the tender for supplying the hydrant replacements.
“Following detailed evaluation of tenders, KPC is pleased to advice you that you have been awarded tender for the above at USD 6,409.491 (USD Four Hundred and Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety One and Eighty Nine Cents). Inclusive of all Taxes,” says the letter of award sent to the managing director of Aero Dispenser Valves Limited signed by former Managing Director of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Charles Kiprotich Tanui .
Authenticity of Aero Dispenser Valve Ltd has since been put into question after documentation for the company showed conflicting information.
It has also emerged Aero Dispenser Valve does not have the alleged authority to supply equipment from the Canadian manufacturing company Cla-Val, the sources said.
Aero had presented documents to KPC suggesting that Cla-Val had authorised Allied Inspection and Testing to supply hydrant pit valves to JKIA.
However, questions have been raised on the financial prudence of acquiring two year operational spares for the whole hydrant system at the KPC Nairobi terminal.
According to documents in our possession, Aero Dispenser Valves Limited was registered in May 3, 2013 owned by three directors.
Francis Wamahiu was listed as the secretary with zero shareholding while Francis Omondi Obure and Beryl Aluoch Khasinah own 300 and 700 shares respectively.
Huba Waka is listed in the company profile as the operations manager.
Interestingly, Aluoch is also shareholder of Thermo Dynamics Limited, a company under investigations over shady dealings with KPC.
Also, Huba and Aluoch both of who investigators believe share relations with Juma are also directors of Sealing and Seals Limited another firm trading at KPC.
