Former EACC boss Halakhe Waqo to be grilled over KEMSA scam

Former Ethics and Anti-Corruption boss Halakhe Waqo is set to appear before the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee over the KEMSA scandal.

The former anti graft agency chief executive is wanted over his alleged links to Assure Commercial Services Limited, a company that was controversially awarded a Ksh. 347 million contract to supply masks.

The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) gave the company a pharmaceutical tender despite it being a furniture supplier.

PIC summoned Waqo to explain how the furniture company controversially supplied 50,000 boxes of face masks.

The chairman of the universities fund board is said to have stood as a guarantor for the company and assisted the firm to secure funds from the First Community Bank.

Halakhe Waqo is not among the directors or shareholders of the company.

Zubeda Nyamlondo and Pharnice Adhigo are the only listed directors of company after two others–Dorothy Omogi and Stanley Rimbere–exited the company.

Appearing before the public investment committee, Zubeda Nyamlondo said she walked into KEMSA with a sample mask and within two hours it was approved.

Within four days she had secured her company a contract worth a whooping Ksh. 347million.

“You just walked in there and told them you can supply goods worth Ksh. 347million and in four days you received a commitment letter?” PIC Chairperson Abdulswamad Nassir posed.

To which she replied: “They said that it was an emergency procurement.”

Armed with the contract at hand, Zubeda needed funding and it is the former EACC boss Waqo who assisted Assure Commercial Services with Ksh. 200million from the First Community Bank.

In summoning Mr. Waqo, the committee alleges mischief of powerful individuals using proxies to bid for multi-million shilling tenders in government agencies.

For the former anti-graft agency boss, Tuesday’s date with the MPs will be a different ballgame as he faces questions on possible collusion to aid and abate corruption.