The National Assembly's Public Investments Committee has commenced an inquiry into mega building tenders awarded to a Chinese firm.
In the meeting that was led by the committee's chairperson and Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, the company directors were questioned over the reduction of the NSSF Hazina Trade Center project from 36 floors to 15 floors.
According to the Committee, the Chinese firm was paid in full for the building project despite the reduction of the floors.
Wangwe also questioned why the project ended up costing more money than had initially been planned for.
"What made the 15 floors more expensive than building the 21 floors? Even if there were variations, it cannot be 100%," he posed.
In response, the company director explained that the reduction was not undertaken by them adding that they were just tasked with constructing the building.
"We are contractors and not involved in the decision-making of the variations. We are just on-site for construction purposes, and when the decision of variation was reached, we were building the 15th floor," the official responded.
On the other hand, MPs also queried allegations of conflict of interest given that the Chinese firm was also undertaking private residential apartments in Kilimani.
Some reports alleged that some government officials were being promised residential units to influence the outcome of government tenders.
"MP Caleb Amisi raised concern about why the company was also building multiple luxury residential apartments in Nairobi's Kilimani area and Kikambala in Mombasa while still undertaking construction for the government.
"MPs queried whether officials in state agencies were being given kickbacks in the form of apartments in exchange for giving out tenders," read the statement by the committee.
Following the Tuesday grilling, MPs directed the company officials to present more documents that will assist in the investigations.
Notably, the company was warned of blacklisting should they fail to comply with the directives.
Other mega projects undertaken by the firm include; Bunge Towers and the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
