By Dorothy Musyoka
Eight employees of the Tana River County Government have been arraigned at the Hola Law Courts, facing corruption charges related to a procurement scandal.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (ODPP), the charges fall under Section 42(2) (b) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
The accused include prominent former and current officials, notably Fatuma Zahra Adan, the former Chief Officer of the Public Service and Civic Education Department, and Abashora Swaleh Salad, formerly the Principal Supply Chain Management Officer for Tana River and currently the Lamu County Director of Supply Chain.
Additional defendants include members of the County Tender Evaluation Committee and directors of Al Karim General Construction Company Limited.
Fatuma Zahra Adan is accused of initiating a procurement process for Tender No. TRCG/030/2016-2017, related to fencing at Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) offices and staff quarters, without inclusion in the approved budget for the 2016/2017 financial year.
Her charges also include proceeding with the project without proper planning and awarding a tender without a professional procurement opinion.
“Fatuma Zahra Adan, as the then-Chief Officer of the Public Service and Civic Education Department, faces charges for wilfully failing to comply with procurement laws by initiating the procurement process for Tender No. TRCG/030/2016-2017 for fencing at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) offices and staff quarters, despite the procurement not being included in the Tana River County Government’s approved budget for the 2016/2017 financial year. Additionally, she is charged with engaging in a project without proper planning, contrary to Section 45(2)(c) as read with Section 48 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, as well as awarding a tender without a professional opinion from the head of procurement,” explained the ODPP.
Abashora Swaleh Salad faces charges for failing to provide the necessary professional opinion on the procurement.
The Tender Evaluation Committee members are charged with approving the tender despite non-compliance with mandatory requirements by Al Karim General Construction Company Limited.
The six directors of Al Karim General Construction Company are accused of fraudulent practices, including submitting a falsified National Construction Authority letter and a forged tax compliance certificate.
All eight accused individuals pleaded not guilty and were granted bail of Ksh. 300,000 each or an alternative bond of Ksh. 500,000 with a surety of the same amount.
The case, led by prosecutor Elijah Oruko, is set for mention on January 31, 2025, for further directions.