Sh96million contract for rehabilitation of Bomas of Kenya auditorium raise eyebrows

The management of Bomas of Kenya is on the spot over controversial award of Sh96million contract for the rehabilitation of the auditorium without evaluation report by the public works committee, The Informer can authoritatively reveal.

Initially, the tender was awarded to Eleventh Construction Limited at a cost of Sh86million but has since been revised upwards up to Sh96million.

Our investigations have established the General Manager Peter Gitaa Koria and chairman of the board Josiah Magut have agreed to convene a meeting of the audit committee of the board on Monday next week amid clouds of doubt surrounding the saga.

According to impeccable sources, a section of the board and management are concerned that the award was done without the mandatory evaluation report and requisite clearance by the public works committee.

Similarly, questions are abound how the contractual value was varied upwards to a tune of Sh10million.

The procurement, finance and audit committees of the board are pushing the management to explain how the multi-million contract involving major architectural and construction works that might bring safety concerns of the auditorium sailed through without a clean bill of health by the public works evaluation committee.

However, the management is at pains to give a conclusive feedback.

The contract awarded vide Tender No.BOK/RA/01/2021 attracted bids from seventeen contractors.

According to records seen by us, the lowest bidder was Forward Construction Co. Ltd at a cost of Sh59.9million followed by EASCO Africa Limited and Starhotech Suppliers Limited who quoted Sh60.9million and Sh70.3million respectively.

On the other hand, Eleventh Construction Limited which was controversially awarded the contract was among the three highest bidders alongside Pregel Engineering Services Ltd and Endeavours Contractors Co. Ltd who at a cost of Sh99.8million and Sh107.1million respectively.

According to records seen by The Informer, Eleventh Construction Limited floated a bid of Sh86, 475,905.

Both Magut and the General Manager have been previously been accused for allegedly blocking planned board meetings to deliberate a litany of graft allegations at the beleaguered public facility.

A section of board members is planning to formally write to the Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala and Principal Secretary Zeinab Hussein seeking ministry’s intervention to address the rot at the parastatal.

Sources privy with the goings on at Karen based institution intimated that senior officials adversely implicated fear a full board meeting May pass resolutions have comprehensive audit undertaken and thus risk having their culpability unmasked.

Neither Magut nor Gitaa have responded to a multiple questionnaires by us in a serialised exposee of the deep rooted graft within the institution.

In some of our previous exposés, The Informer unraveled how suspicious payouts have raised eyebrows pointing to a litany of shady dealings.

The office the Finance Manager headed by Chief Accountant Nixon Mugilwa has been singled out in the alleged dubious payouts raised though vouchers.

Mugilwa could also not explain how money was drawn from the Bomas of Kenya account to pay air tickets for two ladies, both non-staff members who accompanied senior officials on a trip to Dubai in February this year.

In some instances, the payments are made through bankers’ cheques or Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) from the Bomas of Kenya bank account directly to the private accounts of the beneficiaries.

Questions have been raised how Gitaa raised a doubtful 68 days per diem claim amounting to Sh418, 200 for a seminar he attended only for a day in Mombasa.

Gitaa made the claim through voucher A3824 and payment made through cheque number 023926.

By then, he was serving as the Acting General Manager at Bomas of Kenya before his confirmation in November 2020.

The seminar was held mid-2020 to review the Finance and Accounts department in Mombasa.

On the other hand, other flagged expenditures include Sh201, 560 paid to Mugilwa as per diem for a supposed training he attended in Mombasa amid fears he never showed up.

While reached for comment, Mugilwa did not respond to our questions sent via mail and as short text message.

Others include expenses paid vide voucher NO. A3904 paid through Cheque No. 023947 of Sh187, 150 dated 25/06/202, voucher NO.A3902 paid through Cheque No.023945 of Sh139, 600 and voucher NO.A3888 paid through Cheque No.023942 of Sh263, 765.

Similarly, questions have been raised over authenticity of voucher NO.A3887 paid through Cheque No.023939 of Sh297, 680 and voucher NO.A3832 paid through Cheque No.023929 of Sh233,