MPs puzzled by Ketraco boss’ abrupt resignation amid graft probe

An investigation by the Members of Parliament (MPs) over Sh785 million special audit on the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project has led to the resignation of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (Ketraco) Chief Executive.  

Fernandes Barasa resigned on Monday, a day before he was set to appear before the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee to give clarity on queries raised by the Auditor General

Barasa, whose contract was due to end in April, was summoned together with Kenya Power managers for flouting the law. 

“It is a bit wanting that we are being told that he (Barasa) resigned yesterday, just hours before he appeared before the committee,” said the committee’s chair Abdulswamad Nassir. 

Nassir said the resignation was abrupt and wondered whether it had to do with the Auditor General’s special audit on the LTWP. 

Likoni MP Mishi Mboko wondered whether the former MD had been part of a graft cartel and probably needed to avoid MPs over the audit report. 

“I don’t know whether he is part of the cartel or not. We are just surprised by his move,” she said. 

Barasa is said to have resigned to seek a political seat ahead of the February 9 resignation deadline set for civil servants eyeing to contest in the August poll.  

Anthony Wamukota, who was yesterday appointed Ketraco acting chief executive, asked the committee for more time to familiarise himself with the responses that Barasa had provided to the committee before resigning. 

Nassir agreed to give him more time, stating that Barasa’s responses had gaps that needed to be filled.  

Wakumota will now appear before the committee on Tuesday next week. 

“There were many variations in the construction of the transmission line and I have not seen the reasons why, as well as explanations to the Ministry of Energy about the variations in terms of delay in time as well as the deemed generated energy,” the committee chair said.  

Wamukota was asked to give clarity on whether the ministry and the contractor had information on how costly the delay would be and sat on it. 

The special audit on the Lake Turkana Wind Power (LTWP) project has caused jitters in the energy sector after noting anomalies in the process of selecting the firms to build the plant and the Loiyangalani-Suswa power line. 

The Auditor General recommended that top officials in the Energy ministry and Kenya Power at the time be held to account Members of the committee, however, argued that Wamukota has been a general manager at Ketraco and should be familiar with what Barasa had authored. 

The Loiyangalani-Suswa power line was set to be delivered in January 2017 but was not completed until September 2018. 

“The Ministry of Energy and KPLC should be held accountable for not ensuring a competitive process was followed in identification and implementation of this project to ensure fairness, transparency, equity and cost-effectiveness,” said the Auditor General Nancy Gathungu in the report.