COTU criticises EACC, DPP for clearing former NSSF boss of corruption allegations

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) has criticised the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for clearing former National Social Security fund boss Richard Langat of corruption allegations.

COTU also accused the Director of Public Prosecutions for clearing Langat saying the move is tantamount to shielding some individuals accused of corruption from prosecution.

Speaking at the union Headquarters, the COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli challenged the new EACC team headed by Philip Kinusu to take up the Tassia II scandal and pursue the culprits.

Atwoli said the union had furnished EACC with all the evidence it had to prove the allegations of graft and illegal approval of the Sh5.1 billion Tassia II infrastructure development project.

The COTU boss also added that he had written to EACC to furnish COTU with details of its investigation into the project for it to conduct private investigations, claiming there is a cover-up in EACC that resulted into the clearance of Langat.

In October COTU challenged EACC to fast-track investigations into the Ksh 5 billion Tassia II infrastructure project.

In a statement to media houses, COTU claimed that several individuals linked to the fraudulent approval of the project and whose payments were hurriedly made through email approval remain at large.

The union also called for EACC to investigate how the Cabinet approved NSSF’s joint project with Private Partnership for Mavoko Municipality and Nairobi’s Kenyatta Avenue property development at a cost of Ksh 130 million when the Public Procurement Oversight Authority (PPOA) had advised otherwise.

COTU also called for an inquiry into how the expansion works on the Hazina Towers suddenly moved from the initial Ksh 3.2 billion to Ksh 7.2 billion without NSSF Board of Trustees involvement and evaluation.

“These are concerns still disturbing Kenyan workers and it is only prudent that the EACC strives to avail to Kenyans reports on these issues,” read the statement in part.

COTU resilient in calling for investigations into dealings at the Fund comes after new changes, ringed by former acting Labour CS Raychelle Omamo saw the return of COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli into the board.

Atwoli was axed from the board by the then Labour CS Kazungu Kambi last year for allegedly failing to attend the required number of board meetings.