BRIBERY CLAIMS ROCKS KENGEN
Posted by African Press International on August 27, 2009
By Jeff Otieno
Kenya Electricity Generating Company Ltd (KENGEN) has allegedly been rocked by a massive scandal at its KIPEVU station.
In a terse letter dated 10th August 2009 to the Managing Director Eddy Njoroge, Witerose Security Systems Ltd Chief Executive Polycap Ocholla alleges that the station Manager Eng. Abel Rotich has been demanding bribes from him in order to be kept a float to continue doing a contract with the company.
Ocholla said that he started doing business with KENGEN way back in 2003 and emphasized that the relationship has been very cordial.
Torrid ties started in August 2007 when Eng. Rotich wrote a letter of harmonization demanding that Witrose reduces its number of security guards from 44 to 36 irrespective of letter of award Ref: PROC.475/DM/WK dated 26th April 2007 for the ongoing contract. And second letter of harmonization Ref: OM/KPV/117/10/AR/e, dated July 26th 2007.
In the harmonization letter Ocholla alleges that Eng Rotich was suggesting that he reduce the actual guards as per his letter by 11 guards, but he continue invoicing KENGEN as per the letter of award and that the amount of Kshs.10, 440 multiplied by the 11 which is equivalent to Ksh.114, 840 to be shared between them on fifty fifty basis in exchange of a cheque worth Kshs.619, 440.
Since I knew this would compromise the security of the station at the expense of our image by deploying less guards in very key sensitive positions and considering the negative impact should theft occur, we have never been in good relationship, the letter read in part.
Ocholla said that he has been at the mercy and has suffered of late in the hands of this manager who at times colludes with his juniors to stage manage theft to portray his company as inept with a view of denying him business.
Several alleged theft cases of copper cables in KIPEVU have been confirmed to be stage managed by Rotich and his cronies within the station and our guards have never been involved to take stock of length of cables to be used within the precincts of KIPEVU or without, the letter further read.
He went on to say that when they were previously involved to do stock and to move cables from one outfit to the other, such claims of theft didnt occur and records are there to attest to the claim.
He continued to mention an interesting case where 80 metres of black cable was cut by a Mr. Gonna of KIPEVU and the same was loaded on a private courier Data Rush Company vehicle registration No. KBB 886X driven by Mr. Thomas Macharia on 25th July, 2008 allegedly being transported to KENGEN Nairobi Office. Its common knowledge that KIPEVU is supplied from your Nairobi stores, and why would 80 metres cable be taken to Nairobi in a private van and more so without a gate pass? he questioned.
In a letter which was equally copied to the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission (KACC) he concluded that since most of the alleged dubious deals being propelled by Rotich have been unearthed by his guards, hes now pushing that the Managing Director Eddy Njoroge terminates his contruct.
Hes further intending to go the full throttle of swearing an affidavit in regards to all the claims against Mr. Rotich and to even adduce more evidence when called upon by the authorities.
End.
