State House Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei has directed the Athi Water Works Development Agency Board to suspend its CEO Michael Thuita pending graft investigations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
In a statement on Friday, Koskei cited the irregularities in the award of tenders for the construction of Ruiru II, Karimenu and Kitui Matuu water projects as reason for Thuita’s suspension. He said a delay by the board to take action against the CEO was undermining the government’s war against corruption.
Likewise, he has also asked the Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency Board to suspend its CEO Samuel Oruma over similar accusations involving the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation System for Bomet, Longisa and Mulot towns projects within the jurisdiction of the agency.
“Mr Koskei says the inordinate delay in taking action on the part of the board of directors and the ministry is undermining the government’s war against corruption,” read a statement from State House spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.
The Chief of staff maintains that the two CEOs are in office, notwithstanding the gravity of the allegations and the quantum of resources under inquiry.
The statement by Koskei comes hours after EACC officers arrested Thuita and forced him to lead them to two of his homes in Westlands and Rongai and his office, as they searched for documents they believed were crucial in their investigation.
His arrest came even as the Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome is yet to act on an advisory by the commission to suspend the Thuita pending investigations.
EACC had raised concerns over the failure of CS Wahome to suspend CEO Thuita whom they accuse of being involved in the irregular award of multi-billion shillings tender of water projects.
