Economy

Construction tender scam hits Kericho airport upgrade take-off

FAKE

Jemororan Construction Company faked crucial documents to earn the Sh100 million worth project. FILE PHOTO | NMG

The planned upgrade of the much hyped Kerenga airstrip in Kericho County has hit yet another snag after the county revoked the controversial contract.

This is after claims that the contractor, Jemororan Construction Company, faked crucial documents to earn the Sh100 million worth project.

The revocation was done following an intense grilling by senior county officials a fortnight ago even as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) continues probing senior county officials said to have used the firm as a proxy.

"The project will either be re-tendered or the second highest bidder from the previous tender be picked," said the county Public Relations Officer, Timothy Kemei when asked about the way forward.

The contractor has now had to withdraw bulldozers which had begun digging up foundation for the runway expansion at the site. Prior to his contract being revoked, Mr Peter Koskey, the department of public works Chief Officer had written a show cause letter to the director of Jemororan indicating that it had misinterpreted facts in respect of the qualification for the award of the tender.

"We noted that there was misinterpretation in respect of your qualifications for the award of the above mentioned tender constituting an offence under section 66 (2) of the public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act 2015," read the letter.

Mr Koskey stated in the letter copied to EACC and the Director of Public Procurement Regulatory Authority, that the contract becomes inflatable pursuant to section 63 (3)(b) if the misinterpretation is affirmed.

The director of the company underwent intense interrogation by a panel comprising Mr Koskey, Procurement Officer and other senior county officers.

A source privy to the grilling, who sought anonymity because he is not allowed to talk to the media, claimed that the controversial company had fictitiously claimed that it had undertaken works amounting to Sh114 million whereas it emerged that the amount was actually Sh14 million.

"The company presented a falsehood. It had done a contract worth Sh14 million, but they added one before the figure to make it Sh114million," said the source.