President Uhuru Kenyatta is set to launch a multi-billion project in Kisumu, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's home turf, after suffering delays from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
According to a report by Daily Nation, the president is expected to launch the revamped Kisumu Port that cost Ksh3 billion on Tuesday, January 14.
The publication further indicated that the port's implementation team headed by Transport PS Esther Koimet was scheduled to meet on Thursday, January 9, to arrange the event.
“The head of state will be here to launch the facility. The port was ready long ago and operations have already started," a source familiar with the arrangements is quoted by the publication.
The project was 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 is still in the directories crosshairs for authorising a Ksh2.5 billion expenditure, Ksh800 million of which was reportedly shared among companies yet the projected value of the specific job was only Ksh100 million.
“The ongoing probe somehow slowed activities at the port since many officers were absent because they were being questioned,” continued the official.
Broadly, Manduku is facing 22 possible charges pressed by the DCI related to irregular procurement in other ports.
The director and other suspects were accused of misappropriating funds to the tune of Ksh1.4 billion by issuing purchase orders irregularly for the manufacture of 17, 940 pieces of concrete barriers.
Manduku reportedly failed to ensure a proper procurement plan was in place for the manufacture of concrete barriers in Mombasa and allegedly influenced a procurement officer to award the tenders to preferred contractors.
