Cartels looting Kerra billions – Weekly Citizen

CS, Macharia

Two managers at Kenya Rural Roads Authority are fleecing Chinese contractors millions of shillings in form of kickback demands before road tenders are awarded.
The duo, head of procurement Margaret Muthui and Peter Gichohi are also engaged in development of multibillion housing projects in Kiambu county in collaboration with Chinese contractors.
Surprisingly, in total regard of personal interests, the same Chinese firms linked to Kerra projects are being used to do the private housing projects.
To buy protection, Muthui and Gichohi boast of pocketing members on senate and parliamentary committees on transport, public works and housing.
The members are Senator Kimani Wamatangi who is the chair, Hargura Godana, vice chair committee members are Mpaayei Salau, Gona Zawadi, Lelegwe Ltumbesi, Kasanga Mueni, Madzayo Mwachiru, Malala Cleophas and Wambua Enoch Kiio.
The parliamentary counterparts are David Pkosing Losiakou, chair, Moses Kuria, vice chair, with members Dominic Kipkoech, Peris Tobiko, Hassan Kulow, Mugambi Murwithania, Samuel Arama, Shadrack Mose, Gachagua Rigathi, Jaldesa, Rehema, Gaal Bashane, David Njuguna, Naicca Johnson, Odege Tom, Suleiman Dori, Ahmed Abdisalan, Mulyungi, Gideon, Ayub Savula and Vincent Kemosi
Gichohi as general manager design and construction at KeRRA was behind the scandal that rocked the collapse of Budalangi Sh1.2 billion Sigiri Bridge in Busia county that was constructed by a Chinese firm.
The bridge collapsed after Uhuru Kenyatta inspected it, a move that saw the opposition turn it into politics ahead of 2017 general elections. The firm-Chinese Overseas, Construction and Engineering Company were awarded the tender. The firm project manager on Sigiri project according our source within Kerra was Jerome Xzue Hua.
Hua is said to be one of the linkmen between Gichohi and Chinese contractors. Weekly Citizen has established that Gachohi and Muthui are close to Transport, Infrastructure and Housing cabinet secretary James Macharia. They are known to boast how they broker deals for the CS and it is even said that they are business partners in the lucrative roads and housing projects.
Weekly Citizen has information that Macharia using his brokers is eyeing the controversial multibillion shillings housing projects which is aimed at fleecing workers and is a mega scandal in waiting.
Back to Kerra, Gichohi and Muthui are also linked to award of tenders to a dubious firm Nightgale Enterprises Ltd. The directors of the firm are Evelyn Mungai, Ephantus Gathekia, Peter Muchuku and Samuel Nduati. Surprisingly, Evelyn and Muthui are also business associates in other investments.
Nightgale, according to sources, originally was to deal in stationery and digital printing, but out of the blue, shifted to road construction works with Kerra and Kenya Highways Authority.
It landed a lucrative but controversial tender to do asphalt paving and bush clearing, backfilling of Wajirbor-Qorof- Harar-Kutulo Road in Wajir East at a cost of Sh345,900,000.
A certificate of service completion awarded shows the road was 25.6 kilometres. Another similar certificate shows the road was 80 kilometres raising eyebrows. That is for Kenha.
Then we have Kerra project in which, Nightgale, was awarded a tender to rehabilitate and maintenance of Masinga-Wendano Road. The value of the works was forged after not featuring on the certificate of completion. Payments running into Sh500,000,000 was paid to the ghost Kerra project.
In 2017, the company books of accounts reveal, Nightgale made a cool Sh337,293,727 profit before tax as compared to Sh273, 439,409.
Sources reveal that currently the directors of Nightgale are engaged into bitter boardroom wars after one of them, Gathekia, died in mysterious circumstances. A one Peter Njoroge Muchuku lives in North Carolina, USA where he has decided to go into hiding following Gathieka’s death and rarely visits the country.
As a result, director Nduati and Everlyn are running the show. At Kerra, they have been pushing to have Gichohi director general to replace the acting boss Luka Kimeli who they see if confirmed, will destroy the cartel operations. Sucked in Kerra tender wars and succession war is also the managing director of Modagashe Agencies Company Nassir Balasinga. The firm does construction works in North Eastern at infiltrated costs