How KPLC employees awarded tenders to relatives

An internal audit has unearthed an alleged scandal between Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) employees and contractors.

They are accused of registering companies to award themselves contracts and sneak in unqualified firms into the company’s database.

According to an audit seen by Citizen TV, the power company enlisted 525 firms; out of the pre-qualified firms, 354 were shortlisted with fake documents.

Most of the disputed firms are linked to KPLC employees.

For instance, a clerk in Nairobi is claimed to have registered a company, enlisted it in the KPLC database and then sold it off to a contractor at Ksh.900,000.

The same clerk is apparently related to a director of a firm given a KPLC tender in Nairobi.

Further, four other members of staff are said to have direct links with companies transacting business with KPLC.

Seven supervisors have also been put on the spot for allegedly receiving kickbacks from contractors.

Ziporrah Bora, a supervisor in Kiambu, allegedly received Ksh.729,000 in kickbacks from four different directors.

Daniel Nyamweya Basweti, a project officer in Nakuru also allegedly received Ksh.677,000 from two contractors and a staff member.

The internal audit also names seven Kenya Power employees listed in pre-qualified labour and transport firms.

The auditors have since recommended disciplinary action against all employees implicated in the scandal.

They have also called for the suspension of contracts and removal of the 354 firms found to be illegally listed.