CS Najib Balala summoned by EACC over Ksh.100M conference contract

Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife will on Monday, February 18 has been summoned by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission over a Ksh.100 million contract awarded in 2017.

In a letter signed by EACC director of investigations Abdi Mohamud, CS Balala will appear at the agency offices on Monday over the irregular awarding of a contract to the American Society of Travel Agents Kenya.

“The commission is conducting investigations into allegations of irregular award of contract to ASTA Kenya for hosting of ASTA 2017 Destination Expo Conference and further sponsorship of Ksh.100M for the conference,” reads the summons.

“To facilitate our investigation, you are kindly invited for interview and statement recording at our Integrity Center offices on 18th February, 2019 at 9.00am.”

Balala, at the same time denied media reports that his homes in Nairobi, Kilifi and Mombasa homes had been raided by EACC detectives over the issue.

It had been reported of dawn raids conducted last Monday in the minister’s Nairobi office and his homes in Nairobi, Vipingo in Kilifi, and Mombasa where crucial documents were recovered.

Threatening to sue the media house, the Cabinet Secretary took to Twitter to deny the claims saying that the Ministry has cooperated with EACC on the inquiry.

“No raids have taken place at my house as claimed by The Standard Newspaper today, the journalist was aware prior to publishing the report of the same. My legal team is handling the matter,” he tweeted.

“EACC inquiry on the American Society of Travel Agents Expo that took place at KICC in Feb 2017 organised by ASTA – Kenya chapter has been an ongoing process which the Ministry of Tourism has fully cooperated since the start of the inquiry.”