Felix Koskei, the chief of staff and head of public service for President William Ruto, has ordered the suspension of six chief executive officers due to allegations of procurement irregularities and corruption in their respective organizations.
Additionally, he has mandated the suspension of an accountant and 67 police officers from the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
The six executives are Peter Gitaa Koria (CEO, Bomas of Kenya), Stanvas Ong’alo (Acting DG, National Museums of Kenya), Stephen Ogenga (DG, National Industrial Training Authority), Benjamin Kai Chilumo (CEO, Huduma Center Secretariat), and Eng. Anthony Wamukota (GM, Design & Construction, KETRACO). Eng. Fredrick Mwamati is the CEO of the Tanathi Water Works Development Agency.
The orders are to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission’s (EACC) recommendations for suspending the officers, who are presently the subject of an inquiry.
While Mr. Ogenga is being investigated for alleged procurement irregularities about a tender award for supplies at NITA, Eng, Mwamati is currently under investigation for suspected procurement irregularities related to constructing a Leather Industrial Park Water Supply Project.
While Mr. Chilumo is accused of corruption related to his time as the Chief Financial Officer of the Kilifi County Government, Mr. Ong’alo is being investigated for his possible role in the irregular payments that resulted in the embezzlement of Ksh. 490 million.
While Eng. Wamukota is being investigated for procurement irregularities relating to the construction contract of the 400KV Loiyangalani Power Project, Mr. Koria is being investigated for improperly acquiring materials at the Bomas of Kenya.
On the other side, Esther Wanjiru Chege, the KeRRA accountant, is under investigation for possible conflicts of interest and unaccounted-for money.
In a message to newsrooms on Thursday, Koskei said, “In these letters, the EACC states that the mentioned officers’ continued stay in office during the investigation will interfere with and undermine its work.”
