Our Reporter
With barely two months before the Athi Water
Services Board CEO Malequen Miulgo proceeds for terminal leave pending end of
his contract in November, details of how he manipulates the tender committee in
awarding multi-million tenders have emerged.
According to sources from
the tender committee, the CEO is a man obsessed with the big man syndrome and
dictates on who gets what tender.
A perfect example is the
augmentation of the Tigoni water supply where 28 companies submitted their
tenders among them Yarrow Construction, Machiri Ltd, Oriental Construction, New
Age Developers, Tisco Construction among others.
Shockingly and by order
of Miulgo, the tender was awarded to Flozziz Construction Ltd which had quoted
Sh121,975,587 yet it was not the lowest bidder. Sources allege the directors of
Flozziz Construction Ltd offered the CEO Sh2m.
In another tender for Athi
Water Boreholes Phase II, 20 companies submitted their bids. Among the
companies are Insta Pumps, Prime Rigs, Njuca Consolidated, Shanxi Geological
among others where the lowest bidder was Turn-O-metal which had quoted Sh197m
but it was awarded to Njuaca Consolidated. Sources alleged that the company’s
directed gave a Sh6m bribe.
Another tender is the
Oloitoktok water supply and sanitation where 14 firms submitted their tenders
namely Penelly Construction (Sh845,223,494), Lee Construction (Sh895,831,031),
Vaghjigai Enterprises (Sh894,940,801), Byusuff and Sons Ltd (Sh875,555,937) and
Unibee Construction (Sh679,738,830) among other tenderers. Sources again allege
that the CEO was allegedly given Sh200m by Byusuff and Sons Ltd and was
unprocedurally awarded the tender yet it was not the lowest bidder.
To block the disgruntled
tenderers from filing complaints at the Public Procurement Oversight Authority,
Miulgo withholds regret letters to the unsuccessful bidders after 21 days to
technically knock them out from taking the case to the PPOA for review. Sources
say by the time he releases the letter, contracts are already signed making it
impossible for the unsuccessful bidders to demand a review.
Section of the tender
committee and staff are now appealing to the board under the chairmanship of
Keen Wachira never to attempt to renew Miulgo’s term which expires in November
2016. Already the tender scam allegations have been forwarded to the Ethics and
Anti Corruption Commission for action. Sources say he has confided in his close
allies that he has sent emissaries to the Deputy President William Ruto to
sweet talk Water minister Eugene Wamalwa to give him another term. The board is
expected to give him a six-month leave pending retirement beginning June 1
2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment