Embattled Kenya Power officials grilled over illegal tender awards
Kenya Power Board yesterday appeared before the National Assembly Energy Committee to answer queries on the illegal awarding of tender contracts and alleged interference with the management of the utility firm.
The committee had summoned the board to shed light on a wide range of issues, including the company’s financial performance, reported infighting between the board and management, as well as dealings between the company and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).
However, some of the board members failed to show up for the meeting prompting the committee chairman David Gikaria to adjourn the meeting.
The Members of Parliament (MPs) accused the board of not taking its job seriously.
Gikaria said in their capacity as members of the different sub-committees of the board, the directors would offer insights that would inform how Parliament and government can help the company get back in shape.
“We would like to hear what all the board members have to say about the different issues that the company is facing so that we can be able to make an informed decision… we cannot be able to do this today without the eight board members (excluding the managing director). We only have three who are physically present and one joining virtually,” he said.
“Kenya Power is the backbone of the power sector in Kenya. If it collapses, the sector will collapse. We also understand the importance of the company to the Kenyan economy.”
Only three board members showed up, Board of Directors chairperson Vivienne Yeda, acting Kenya Power boss, Rosemary Oduor and Kenya Power Secretary Imelda Bore.
Yeda explained that the absence of some of the board members was due to the short notice issued by the committee for the meeting.
“We relish an opportunity to address you to state the facts. This board has always been able to convene. The only challenge this time was that we received the letter (inviting the board to meet with the committee) on Monday. We did not want to ask for more time because of important issues that need to be covered,” she said.
The board is still under investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over interference in the management and tendering process in favour of their preferred proxy tender-preneurs that has occasioned massive loss of taxpayers money due to over-pricing of commodities and services supplied, air supply and delivery of faulty items.
Also on the probe is how the board awarded a tender for restructuring the company to a British based firm also consulting for the East African Development Bank (EADB) where the board chair is a Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
The summonses come weeks after the board fired the former CEO Benard Ngugi before end of his term.
