Ngilu accuses cartels of sabotage

By Mutinda Mwanzia
Water Minister Charity Ngilu has come out fighting over corruption claims in her ministry and accused graft networks of attempting to sabotage her work.
Ngilu said she had done her best to weed out corrupt officials, especially those in parastatals and water companies under her watch.
"A lot of shady dealings were going on, especially in procurement and as we speak the officers implicated have been disciplined," said Ngilu
  She accused her former Assistant Minister, Mwangi Kiunjuri dishonest over corruption, adding his was a case of sour grapes.
"Kiunjuri has been linked with some suspect dealings and should stop pretending he is Mr Clean. We have evidence that incriminates him," said Ngilu.
Kiunjuri kicked a storm when he cited cases of alleged flawed procurement procedures involving construction of water dams.
He told the Lands and Natural Resources Committee on Thursday that there were cases of flawed procurement involving construction of dams and price inflations that amounted to a rip-off of taxpayers.
He claimed one of the consultants had been awarded three of the 12 water projects, with a firm linked to the same individual also hired as experts.
Addressing a news conference at Maji House yesterday, Ngilu, flanked by Assistant Minister Ferdinand Waititu, PS David Stower and Director Water Services Lawrence Simitu, said all contractors awarded tenders had been procedurally vetted.
"The process was done above board and in a transparent manner… the jobs were given to reputable firms," said Ngilu.
She said she had written to House Speaker Kenneth Marende requesting that she appear before the Lands and Natural Resources committee, chaired by Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi, to table evidence that she was not involved in any wrongdoing.
"It is the cartels that have been ripping water boards which should be investigated and I have evidence how unscrupulous suppliers and some officers have been operating," said Ngilu
On the Tana Athi River Water Services Board, Ngilu said the CEO Joseph Nzesya was sent on compulsory leave after a report by the Water Services Regulatory Board (Wasreb) unearthed rampant corruption in the parastatal.
"A procurement manager implicated in shady deals was also sacked," said the minister.