By PATRICK MAYOYO
DAILY NATION
AUGUST 7 2012
PS is being investigated for allegedly buying the land through direct procurement instead of an open tender. The anti-corruption commission is investigating a permanent secretary for allegedly flouting procurement regulations during the purchase of ICT park land in Machakos County.
The 5,000-acre property was bought from Malili Ranch Limited in Machakos County at Sh1 billion.
Information permanent secretary Bitange Ndemo is being investigated together with the ministry’s chief procurement officer for allegedly buying the Konza Techno City land through direct procurement instead of an open tender.
Competitive bidding
Dr Ndemo, however, said on Tuesday the land was bought through competitive bidding.
Questions had been raised over composition of the ministerial committee that awarded the tender.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission said it had opened fresh investigations into the matter after the Director of Public Prosecutions called for further investigations following their recommendations that Dr Ndemo and the ministry’s chief procurement officer be prosecuted.
“The file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions on April 2, 2012, with recommendations that the PS and the ministry’s chief procurement officer be charged with the offences of careless failure to comply with the law relating to procurement of goods contrary to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act,” an EACC report seen by the Nation indicates.
The anti-corruption agency said it launched investigations following allegations of procurement irregularities, bid rigging and abuse of office against Ministry of Information officials during the procurement of the 5,000 acres for the planned Information and Communications and Technology park for the development of business processing outsourcing sub-sector.
“Investigations revealed that the procurement for the purchase of the land for the ICT Park was not done in conformity with the provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act and the Regulations,” it adds.
However, Dr Ndemo said there was no money lost in the procurement of the land for the Konza Techno City as the project was done in the best interest of the country and in a transparent manner.
“The Cabinet had authorised us to buy 10,000 acres but following valuation by the Ministry of Lands that put the price per acre at Sh200,000 we settled for 5,000 acres which were purchased through a competitive tender,” he said.
The PS said the ministerial tender committee did not include “an outsider” as provided for in law.
The Konza Techo City project has been mired in controversy since its inception.
Alleged theft
Three directors of Malili Ranch that sold the land for the project were arrested and charged for alleged theft of millions of shillings from the deal.
The directors allegedly also sold the 5,000 acres to the government at a cost of Sh1 billion without the approval of shareholders.
They reportedly stole Sh143 million from Malili Ranch Limited.
Directors Josiah Munuka, now deceased, Peter Mutua Kanyi, and Julius Maweu Kilonzo were, however, acquitted of all the charges.
COMMENTS:
liza • 8 hours ago
It is evident that most bloggers do not read articles beyond the title
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MARTIN • an hour ago • parent
your point?
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ukweliusemwe • 2 days ago
This commission is useless just a witch hunting waste of public resources. Who is this who feels should have been the one to sell his land?
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Rodney1 • a day ago
This PPOA is now useless nothing will get done in this country at this rate already billions of shillings are returned to Treasury because PS' are scared of spending money because whatever you do someone will always accuse you of corruption.Maybe we should request some angels from heaven to do some of this jobs or will somebody also accuse them of corruption.As Kenyans let us accept some cash on any project will be "eaten" but in the long run as long as the project gets done that is the price to pay just ask Malaysia and Indonesia.Corruption in small doses is not bad it gets things done faster so let us not pretend we can get rid of all the corruption even the U.S and Britain are not 100% free of the same.
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eddyeddyy • 2 days ago
Could this be happening, that as long as i am not involved in an excercise, i will always claim corruption has taken place. Let us be careful even as we fight the vice.
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liza • 9 hours ago • parent
seems to be the case here unless the article is lacking important info on the actual crime committed.
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John N. Onsaki • 7 hours ago
These are some of the commissions that have long ceased to live within the kenyan aspiration, its sad, let expend and spend wisely for the benefit of the Kenyan Pple.
let remain focused as Kenya, any wrong done must be clearly pointed out without delay.
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PeachyItaako • 7 hours ago
The real problem is an individual staying in a particular portfolio for so long,some minor events on closer scrutny start raising eyebrows!!
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zem2012(Mr.Amwoma) • 9 hours ago
Let us not jump to condemn this permanent secretary. Let us understand clearly who bought the land and for what purpose and what the long term benefits are.This permanent secretary, Bitange Ndemo, the way I have read about him in the news for the last five or so years has left a mark as far propelling Kenya to vision 2030 goes. Is it not Ndemo who came up with the idea of Fibre optic cable? Don't Kenyans owe him for internet services?When those cities like Konza become operational, are our young talented children not going to find big things to do there? Politics has become breakfast, lunch and supper in Kenya. Let us not be too judgmental just to exercise freedom of condemnation.
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mzalendokamili • a day ago
There are many multi million projects said about by this PS but i have never seen one completed successfully.The media should keep track of this projects and tell us what is happening or else our taxes will end in few individuals pockets.Some of this projects include. Digital villages,National Fibre Optic(NOFBI) projetcs,National Data Center, etc.Our brothers and Sisters in media houses do something if EACC is clueless.
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John N. Onsaki • 6 hours ago • parent
i can respond for NOFBI, its working and excellent; available.
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Rarewatts • 3 hours ago • parent
What about bringing fibre optic to Mombasa?
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Muzalendoobash • 2 days ago
Why do we have many dishonest civil servants ?Waizi wamejaa serikali ni kwa nini?
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Leo Tamutu • 2 days ago
This is kind of scary. It seems like our civil servants - a.k.a leaders - are not capable of managing public money without a disgusting level of corruption. I think we should contract the management of public funds to a foreign body and this should also include the management of government stores. This may sound unpatriotic but which is a greater evil: getting things done in the proper way and putting the nation into the path of real prosperity or usurping the ability of the nation to prosper due to over inflated procuments?
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KakaMbwekha • 2 days ago
“The Cabinet had authorised us to buy 10,000 acres but following valuation by the Ministry of Lands that put the price per acre at Sh200,000 we settled for 5,000 acres which were purchased through a competitive tender,” he said==this is broad day light robbery. If I had a gun, I would......
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John N. Onsaki • 6 hours ago • parent
let see, which day light robbery? be specific, the money, the land, the number of acres?
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mzalendokamili • 2 hours ago • parent
A friend of mine at the same time bought 20 acres@Kshs. 800K at an adjacent farm.He has not sold even an acre as per today.Thats the reason we are talking of competitive bidding.Compare 200K per and 40K per acre.There is the money lost.Infact whoever put a budget of 1B for 10,000 acres seems to have the facts on the ground.
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KakaMbwekha • 2 hours ago • parent
Another friend of mine bought a land at ksh.100, 000 before the place was earmarked for the project. in fact the price shot up in 2011 after the project was discussed. Let's accept the truth--fraud took place and someone should be charged.
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liza • 9 hours ago • parent
by who? The cabinet gave 1b, ministry of lands says an acre goes for 200,000 thus the money could only afford 5000 acres. who is robbing who according to you?
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KakaMbwekha • 2 days ago
this is another fake leader. he's been singing about speedy internet for years. bure kabisa
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John N. Onsaki • 6 hours ago • parent
be realistic bro.
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sisemi • 2 days ago
Their is definitely a problem with the government procurement procedures, it seems to facilitate inactivity. Dr. Ndemo is working hard to put Kenya up there were we belong and he should not be pulled back by some procedural bureaucratic backwardness. just last week we sadly learned about the billions that were not spent on several important project. Let us not be slaves of the system. Let the system be changed to suit the situation just like we changed the constitution.
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John N. Onsaki • 6 hours ago • parent
fully agree
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Ali Chimwasa • 2 days ago
Landgrabbing??? i think it is a hobby in this country!! I dont want to read about this anymore!!!!!!!! Daily Nation write something else!! we have read enough of this stuff!!!
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MARTIN • 9 hours ago • parent
I thought no amount of money would buy some of these guys...but then this is kenya..our affinity for money and land is just crazy...The PS is always in the news yapping about-global vilages,vision 2030,ICT for all etc....help us God.
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mzalendokamili • 2 hours ago • parent
Our spirits are together bro!
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