Journalists were, on Sunday, August 30, locked out of President Uhuru Kenyatta's event hosted by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
The head of state had flown to Kisumu to inspect the Ksh3 billion Kisumu Port but journalists as well as members of the public were not allowed to get into the facility.
The president was flown to Kisumu accompanied by two Kenya Airforce Helicopters captured on camera.
In his trip, the president also seemed to have dodged the press by choosing to land at the port as opposed to his anticipated touch down at Kisumu International Airport before proceeding to the port by road.
Police were deployed to guard entrance to the port who barred members of the press from accessing the facility.
Uhuru is said to have stopped at the port was at the MV Uhuru that is expected to scale up its operation after it becomes fully operational.
In January, the president was expected to launch the revamped Kisumu Port but delays in repairs kept pushing the date further away.
The project had been slated for launch between November and December 2019 but an investigation from the DCI extended the duration to January 2020.
The investigation stemmed from allegations of corruption hanging over the refurbishment of the port with the majority of the funds having been allegedly misappropriated through procurement flaws.
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) managing director Daniel Manduku , who was in the crosshairs of DCI for authorising a Ksh2.5 billion expenditure, was arrested on Thursday, August 27.
He was accused of irregular procurement amounting to Ksh.244 million at the State corporation.
“There was no requisition made for concrete barriers by the user Department within the KPA as required under the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, 2015(PP & AD Act, 2015) and the Regulations made thereunder," read a statement from the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji.
Below is a video courtesy of NTV:
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga visit the Kisumu Port.#NTVatOne @oukookusa pic.twitter.com/IUOtVnzust
— NTV Kenya (@ntvkenya) August 30, 2020
