Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia has come under scrutiny over constituency procurement following calls for investigations into tenders awarded to a lorry belonging to his wife, Susan Kaguchia.
An open letter addressed to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Office of the Auditor-General and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has raised questions about the awarding of contracts to supply murram for development projects in Mukurwe-ini Constituency.
The letter identifies lorry registration number KDW 434K as belonging to Susan Kaguchia and names several projects where the vehicle supplied construction materials.
They include Kangurwe Wachee Road, Gathuki Mudu Primary School and Thangathi Primary School, alongside other constituency projects.
The complaint has placed the spotlight on procurement decisions involving public funds and whether businesses connected to the families of elected leaders benefited from constituency development contracts.
Questions over contracts awarded to MP’s wife
The four oversight agencies have been asked to establish the ownership of lorry KDW 434K, examine the tender awards and determine whether the procurement processes complied with the law.
The letter specifically raises concerns about possible conflicts of interest, calling for an examination of the relationship between the vehicle’s ownership and the contracts awarded for the supply of murram.
It also seeks an audit of the procurement processes to establish whether the suppliers met the required conditions and whether public money was properly spent.
The matter puts Kaguchia’s constituency procurement processes under scrutiny, with questions emerging over the safeguards used to prevent conflicts of interest in the awarding of publicly funded contracts.
Kenya’s procurement laws require public entities to uphold transparency, fairness, competition and accountability when awarding contracts.
EACC and DCI asked to establish accountability
EACC and DCI have been urged to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reported contracts, while the Auditor-General has been asked to examine the expenditure and utilisation of public funds.
PPRA has also been asked to review the tendering procedures and establish whether the awards complied with procurement regulations.
The letter calls for independent investigations, insisting that the matter should not be influenced by political considerations.
It further maintains that any violations established should attract appropriate legal action, regardless of the individuals involved.
The investigations would establish whether Susan Kaguchia owned the vehicle, whether it received the identified contracts and whether the procurement process violated any laws.
The allegations remain subject to independent verification, and no official findings establishing wrongdoing have been presented in the complaint.
Kaguchia had not issued a response to the issues raised in the letter at the time of publication
