Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has faulted former Department of Correctional Services Commissioner-General of Prisons Isaiah Osugo of fraudulently awarding Ksh4.8 billion for the supply of weapons.
According to an audit report, the money, which was set to be paid to the suppliers before the delivery of the weapons was stopped last month by the anti-corruption agency.
The report further calls for the punishment of the officer together with the head of the procurement unit, Mr Mageto, chief finance officer Sarah Kemunto Karandi and members of the tender and evaluation committee, for misconduct.
The report notes: “The matter should be reported to the investigative agencies so that the law can take its course as the process was fraudulently done.”
Additionally, the internal auditors called for the contracts to be cancelled, asserting that, ” they have raised critical integrity issues due to non-compliance with the statutory provisions of Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act.”
The EACC had last month stopped the payment of Ksh3.6 million.
According to the documents, the estimated cost of the equipment that Kenya Prisons had requisitioned, and which were budgeted for in the 2014/15 financial year was about Ksh90 million.
The documents further reveal that the initial items Kenya Prisons had intended to buy included 300 AK47 rifles, 200 Uzi sub-machine guns, 100 browning pistols, and 100 auto tokara pistols, 3,000 pairs of handcuffs and 300,000 rounds of ammunition.
Also in the list were 1,000 rifle slings, 300 packets of rifle cleaning kits, 300 rifle cleaning rods 10 vehicle mirror scanners 1,000 helmets, 1,000 batons, 500 firearms registers, two dog carrier pick-ups, 1,000 anti-riot gear and equipment and 300 bullet proof jackets.
Strangely, in 2017 the department was to acquire the same items with a significant number of caliber guns, which saw the cost blow up to Ksh4.8 billion.
Read: Ksh4.8 Billion Scandal Foiled At The Prisons Department
The officer and his colleagues are not only being investigated over the misquoted billions of shillings in tender, but also on the fact that they ordered for weapons yet they are not listed as a security agency.
Additionally, the investigators were surprised by the fact that the additional weapons ordered by the service was not factored in the department’s budget plans since its core mandate is rehabilitation.
In his defense, Osugo denied any involvement in the deal arguing that he was not aware of the plans to buy the equipment.
The report contradicts his sentiments as it clearly notes that he, Osugo, was deeply involved in the entire procurement process.
Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com or WhatsApp +254707482874. You can also find us on Telegram through www.t.me/kahawatungu
Email your news TIPS to Editor@Kahawatungu.com — this is our only official communication channel
