KPC MD, two others charged with corruption over auto-transformer tender

Kenya Pipeline Company managing director Charles Tanui and two other officials have been charged with corruption over 8,695.65 euros auto transformer tender.

Tanui is charged alongside KPC chief manager- technical Elias Maina Karumi and KPC chief engineer-instrumentation and control (I &C) with abuse of office, failure to comply with procurement laws and making documents without authority.

Tanui and Karumi are accused of using their office to improperly confer a benefit to Redline Limited by authorizing payment of Euros 8,695.65 ( approximately Sh 1065847) in respect to tender reference SU/QT/3097F/13 for supply, installation and commissioning of line 2 station auto transformers (3 NO) without the installation, testing and commissioning of the said transformers.

Tanui is further charged with willful failure to comply laws relating to procurement by authorizing the said payment without a written and signed contract.

Sirma is alleged to have used his office to improperly confer a benefit by preparing a certificate of completion dated 30th January 2014 which facilitated the irregular payment of Euros 8,695.65 in respect to tender reference SU/QT/3097F/13 for supply, installation and commissioning of line 2 station auto transformers (3 NO).

He is further charged with using his office to improperly confer a benefit by preparing a material arrival advice note/inspection report No. 43368 dated 3rd February 2014 which facilitated the irregular payment to Redline limited.

In addition, he is facing charges of making documents without authority by signing the material arrival advice note/inspection report No. 43368 without lawful authority purporting it to be genuine inspection report certifying that works in respect of the said tender had been completed successfully.

Sirma is also said to have made a and signed a false a false certificate of completion dated 30th January 2014 purporting it to be genuine certifying that works in relation to the said tender had been completed successfully.

The accused person are alleged to have committed the offences on diverse dates in February 2014.

They denied the charges before Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti. They were each granted a cash bail of Sh 700,000.