Disgruntled contractors with Kenya Rural Roads Authority have appealed to Ethics and Anti -Corruption Commission Western region manager Abraham Kemboi to launch investigations against a top officer in the roads agency accused of tender corruption.
The contractors who sought anonymity for fear of victimisation have frequently protested against Kerra Nyanza regional boss Kenneth Ochieng over what they term as favouritism in issuance of tenders.
Weekly Citizen is also informed that Ochieng has perfected the art of doing some lucrative tenders through proxies involving friends and relatives.
The new EACC boss has been urged to monitor call logs between Ochieng and some political leaders from the region with a view of establishing the truth behind suspicions that he dubiously issued tenders to companies linked to the said political leaders.
A source told Weekly Citizen that Ochieng is among top government officers who have panicked following the arrival of Kemboi in the region.
Unlike his immediate predecessor, Kemboi is widely known to be a thorough investigator committed to his work, at least going by his previous stations.
His arrival in Raila Odinga’s backyard triggered a narrative that he was strategically posted in the area to investigate claims that government officials looted taxpayers money and directed towards the Azimio La Umoja campaigns during the last general elections.
Another narrative being advanced is that he could be on a mission to target anti-Ruto leaders.
It is imperative to note that Ochieng was mentioned in some quarters as among government officials countrywide who donated cash to the Azimio La Umoja campaigns in the last general elections.
When he arrived in Kisumu, Kemboi declared senior officers working in government parastatals who mysteriously became overnight millionaires are among those targeted for investigations.
Kemboi said that also being investigated are country executive members, chief officers and county directors among others.
He noted that demand for lifestyle audit is supported by section 55 of the anti-corruption and economic crimes Act which demands that all state and public officers must at all times be able to account for their wealth or lifestyle .
It is also imperative to note that the country is still smarting from a shocking story of a Coast regional Kerra boss who brazenly amassed a whopping Sh1 billion through dubious tender deals.
The saga of Benson Mutie Masila sent shivers down the spines of his colleagues across the country.
The EACC concluded that some of the alleged illicit wealth linked to Masila included bank and Mpesa deposits, apartments, motor vehicles and listed shares.
