Tenderpreneur behind scandalous Sh433million KNH oxygen plant Leonard Njeru granted UDA ticket for Mbeere North mini polls
Seven aspirants for the Mbeere North constituency under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) banner have stepped down in favour of Leonard Muriuki Njeru alias ‘Muthende’ or ‘Leo’, the man linked to the scandalous Sh433million stalled oxygen gas plant at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) which records show was awarded to his firm, Biomax Africa Limited using falsified documents.
In a consensus building session overseen by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Muriuki was settled as the party’s flagbearer during the upcoming by by-election after his competitors for the UDA ticket withdrew from the race.
At the same time, another contender Duncan Mbui, formerly fronted by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua but was dropped at the last minute has decamped to Moses Kuria’s led Chama Cha Kazi (CCK) party.
On the other the Democratic Party (DP) led by former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has fronted Newton Kariuki (popularly known as Newton Karish) as their official candidate for the upcoming Mbeere North by-election.
Karish is the current MCA for Muminji ward, Mbeere North, Embu County.
DCP dropped its candidate in favour of DP’s contender to consolidate their vote bloc setting stage for a three horse race.
DP Kindiki has lauded the parliamentary hopefuls seeking the UDA ticket for agreeing to support one candidate.
Kindiki said the aspirants had shown enviable leadership for setting aside their ambitions and endorsing Muriuki to carry the ruling party’s flag in the November 27 by-election.
“As a party we are happy to see the aspirants have all agreed to endorse one candidate,” DP said.
Speaking today during an engagement with youth and grassroots leaders at Karambari Centre, Mbeere North Constituency, Embu County, the DP said the party will fully support the candidate to ensure he clinches the seat.
Kindiki said Muriuki will be handed the UDA nomination certificate next week as he unveiled him during the event.
The Deputy President revealed that the former Area MP Charles Njagagua who was among the eight candidates who stepped down, has been tasked with leading the campaign secretariat for the UDA candidate.
“We are grateful to Njagagua for his selflessness. He will be in charge of the secretariat that will also have the other eight candidates,
“We respect the decision by Njagagua and the others because it is the greatest sacrifice you have made for the people of Mbeere North and you will be rewarded,” stated Kindiki.
The seat fell vacant after the immediate former MP Geoffrey Ruku was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development.
Muriuki promised to work with the former aspirants to deliver a landslide victory for the ruling party saying he will work with all residents to ensure development in the constituency.
Biomax Africa Limited, a firm owned by Muriuki was controversially awarded the oxygen plat tender, now stalled, in May 2022 after the Ministry of Health controversially granted Muriuki’s firm the contract for the supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of a medical oxygen plant at KNH, aiming to generate 8,000 liters per minute (LPM).
With little track record in large-scale medical infrastructure, Muriuki’s firm emerged as the winning bidder for the Sh443.6 million contract.
Investigators now believe the documents that secured Biomax Africa the deal were falsified, and that the Ministry of Health’s tender evaluation committee, under the then Principal Secretary Susan Mochache’s watch failed to conduct even the most basic due diligence.
Pre-shipment inspection in France was undertaken in May 2023, a Kenya Health Ministry/KNH team led by the hospital’s Supply Chain Director, Rose Njoroge — inspected equipment at Novair’s facility in Paris. Their report affirmed 100 per cent compliance with tender specifications.
However, massive underperformance was noted upon installation the plant managed only 2,800 LPM, a drastic shortfall from expectations.
Owing to what has been attributed as contractor failures, KNH paid over Sh100 million for a transformer and generator costs that, under original terms, should have been covered by the contractor.
Further, the plant’s inefficiency spiked KNH’s annual electricity bill by Sh500 million more than double previous charges leading to unnecessary and avoidable massive operational expenses financed by the taxpayer in the event the contractor honoured the execution of the terms of contract to the letter.
