Suspended Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency CEO Samuel Oruma was yesterday after he was involved in a gun drama with the agency’s Board members.
The board members, led by chairman Ndiritu Mathenge had gone to the water agency offices along Prison Road in Nakuru to issue the embattled CEO with a suspension letter and announce the appointment of Douglas Murei in acting capacity.
Oruma however attempted to block them and brandished a pistol, sending everyone scampering for their safety.
The matter was reported to the police and officers from Kaptembwo police station rushed to the offices and disarmed him. He was later taken to the station to record his statement over the scuffle.
Oruma is being investigated over Sh1.7 billion procurement of the Longisa-Mulot water project, was later sent on leave to allow for investigations into the allegations.
“The board took on the matter and on the advice of the government, which is the financier of the projects, has unanimously agreed to send the CEO for a compulsory leave, to allow for investigations into the matter,” Mathenge told the press in Nakuru.
“We have sent the CEO on compulsory leave, we have not sacked him, because everyone deserves a fair hearing and so we will wait for the investigative agency to conclude investigations, so that we can know the next cause of action,” he added.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is investigating Eng. Oruma over allegations of irregular award of a tender for the construction of a water and sanitation system for Bomet – Longisa – Mulot Towns to China Railways No. 10 Engineering Group Ltd at a cost of Sh1.7 billion.
Eng Oruma has been accused of having irregularly and fraudulently approved the change of Specifications from the use of Steel Pipes to the use of Glass Reinforced Pipes (GRP) for the project.
The embattled CEO, according to investigations, approved the pipes despite the concerns that were raised over the GRP pipes which are said to be inferior in terms of quality and much cheaper compared to steel pipes.
Oruma had claimed the GRP pipes would save up to 2.5 per cent of the project cost with a reduced construction period of nine months.
The project was to benefit over 200,000 residents of Bomet Central and Chepalungu constituencies in Bomet County.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is seeking to unravel the extent of the fraud in the project that was launched in April 2022. In a letter dated May 23 2023, EACC instructed the CEO to furnish the commission with 28 crucial documents to assist in investigations.
They included budget estimates, procurement plans, tender documents including the advertisements, bid documents, documents detailing the tender evaluation committee and minutes of their meetings, signed contracts reports, payment vouchers and receipts among others.
The Head of Public Service Felix Koskei had directed that Eng Oruma and Athi Water Works Development Agency CEO Michael Thuita leave office to pave way for thorough investigations. Thuita later resigned.
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