EACC stopped the irregular payment of Sh321 million by the City Council of Nairobi to a private company as charges for garbage collection deal. Photo/FILE
By BENJAMIN MUINDI bmuindi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Friday, December 28 2012 at 16:30
Posted Friday, December 28 2012 at 16:30
A potential loss of Sh1.2 billion in corrupt deals involving six public institutions has been averted, according to the annual report by the anti-graft commission.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) also traced four illegally acquired assets with an estimated value of Sh126.5 million, to mark some of its key successes in the fight against corruption.
The commission halted irregular payment of Sh321 million by the City Council of Nairobi to a private company as charges for garbage collection deal.
Another case involved the irregular payment (without approval and due process) of insurance premiums to Alexander Forbes by the City council which was stopped.
Other investigations into dubious dealings were conducted at the Kilindini Port in Mombasa, Mumias Sugar Company, District Education Board in Kakamega South District, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in Embu, National Social Security Fund and Mariakani Weighbridge and Ministry of Lands.
In Kilindini Port, two containers loaded with fake goods worth Sh10 million were recovered and handed to the anti-counterfeits agency, notes the report released on Friday.
At the Mumias Sugar Company, intended sale of land worth Sh126 million to a private company was stopped and the matter taken to court.
EACC also recovered public assets in Mombasa’s Uhuru Gardens, valued at Sh500 million and another one belonging to Kenya Agricultural Research Institute valued at Sh20 million that had all been grabbed.
In total, the report states that the Commission received and analysed a total of 5,230 reports at it’s headquarter in Nairobi and in its five regional offices in Kisumu, Mombasa, Eldoret, Nyeri and Garissa.
“The number of relevant reports touching on the Commission’s mandate increased to 42 per cent, up from 34 per cent in the last year. This is an indication that many more Kenyans are now better placed to distinguish between what is and what is not corruption,” it adds.
“A good report can only lead to a good investigation as evidenced in the Commission recovering the official Nairobi Mayoral residence and restored the said property to the Permanent Secretary Treasury on 17th April 2012 in a public function.”
Some 89 investigation files were forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions out of which 54 recommendations to prosecute were accepted, three recommended for administrative action and eight for closure among other actions.
Two hundred and thirty six other investigation files were completed.
The annual report has also highlighted milestone in the one year life of the Commission as it transited from Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) to the EACC.
EACC Spokesperson Nicholas Simani said the Commission will continue with the implementation of corruption prevention programmes by providing public education and awareness creation; offering advisory services; enhancing integrity in the public service; promoting standards and best practices; building partnerships and coalitions against corruption and undertaking research on corruption and governance related issues.
Other successes include that the Commission established a partnership with the Lands sector where the development of the Lands Information Management System was done and in the Procurement Sector where together with the Public Procurement Oversight Authority and stakeholders, the Commission continued to address malpractices in the sector.
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