The Ethics and Anti-Corruption (Eacc) sleuths have narrowed their probe against senior Kenya Power employees to six officials believed to have been the key masterminds behind the theft scam, The Informer has established.
They are accused of alleged corruption ranging from procurement irregularities, insider trading, unexplained wealth and conflict of interest at the utility firm.
They include; John Kibyegon from the Supply Chain and Stephen Kinadira of Finance, who were sent on compulsory leave and have been under probe by the anti-graft body.
According to impeccable sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, the investigating officers handling the matter are reported to have finalised the probe and are planning to descend on the bearers of the greatest responsibilities.
“We have been progressing well with the investigations and soon those who were involved will face the full wrath of the law. We have covered enough scope and profiled those who bear the greatest responsibility through acts of commission and omission.” A source privy with the investigations said.
Three weeks ago, the detectives raided homes and carted away documents which they said gave them crucial evidence in their investigations.
The other homes that were raided include the residence of Charles Mwaura (Network Management) Engineer Stephen Nguli and Supply Chain Managers Jane Muigai and John Wachira.
The raid comes nearly eight months after the government announced a lifestyle audit in October last year with the first phase focusing on the executives at the power utility.
“Eacc accessed and searched residential homes of six KPLC Top Managers under investigation for alleged grand corruption ranging from procurement irregularities, insider trading, unexplained wealth and conflict of interest. Critical evidence was confiscated,” Eacc said when it raided the homes.
A preliminary audit report shows that Kenya Power held about Sh9.8 billion in deadstock — pointing to the electricity supplier’s messy procurement programmes.
The dead stock includes items such as cables, meters, and transformers that have been sitting in the warehouses for more than five years.
The audit was part of recommendations of a task force appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to look into the woes that saw the utility firm post a net loss of Sh2.98 billion in the financial year ended June 2020 — it’s first in 17 years.
The task force recommended that all Kenya Power employees be vetted afresh for integrity, suitability, and qualification for the jobs they held, where Eacc was to assist in verifying the wealth held by each of the firm’s more than 10,000 employees, with the audits set to include the main contractors doing business with the power firm.
“Use wealth declarations to verify unexplained wealth and this should be initiated through the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to secure assurance of this value ideal,” read a recommendation from the task force.
The audit was targeted at weeding out employees involved in financial impropriety, an overhaul of the procurement department, replacing the current team with an entirely new one.
The lifestyle audit is part of the recommendations of the task force appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta to look into the woes of the utility last year amid growing concerns of flawed procurement that has seen the company lose billions of shillings.