Economy

KMC boss on the spot over Sh1bn tender

kmc

A Kenya Meat Commission official works at the plant in Athi River. PHOTO | FILE

The Public Investments Committee has put the management of Kenya Meat Commission (KMC) on the spot over the award of a Sh1 billion tender to build a new plant in Athi River.

The committee took KMC managing commissioner James Tendwa to task to explain why he interfered with the tender processing committee resulting in the award of the Sh1 billion tender to NDC Engineering Ltd, a South African firm.

Mr Tendwa is said to have visited the tendering committee on December 11, 2014 at the Machakos University College, prompting KMC chairman Taraiya ole Kores to call for his suspension.

READ: Top KMC bosses row over tenders in upgrade plans

Mr Tendwa told the investment committee chaired by Eldas MP Adan Keynan that he visited the tender team after been requested to do so.

“I was invited by the chairperson of the team. I never made the tender committee change their decisions. The challenge concerned a bidder who indicated they will supply all items based on our specifications,” he told the committee.

Mr Tendwa also denied allegations that the bidder who won the contract did not supply some documents before the process was completed.

One of the members of tendering team had raised a complaint on the tender and Mr Kores wrote to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission among other agencies complaining that Mr Tendwa interfered to have a particular bidder win the tender.

“A CEO has no business under the Procurement Act to advise, give way forward or even attend a meeting of tender committee. You broke the law,” said Investment committee member Olago Aluoch.