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Airport chiefs sacked over Sh10m bus scam


Six top Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) officers involved in contracting a bus company to be ferrying passengers to their check-out points after landing at the cost of Sh10 million per month have been interdicted.

This last week’s presidential directive that the officials involved in the deal at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport be arrested and prosecuted.

The decision to finally axe them was reached late Tuesday. KAA chairman David Kimaiyo said the six have been sent home to pave way for investigations.

They include KAA managing Director Lucy Mbugua, Finance General Manager John Thumbi, Legal Counsel Victor Arika, Procurement Manager Lilian Okidi, Airport Engineer Christopher Warutere and Head of Examination Martin Kungu.

“The chairman and Board of Directors of Kenya Airports Authority wishes to announce that following the Presidential directive on the Passenger Transfer Services (Apron Bus services) at JKIA, the board met and deliberated on 19th May 2015. The following officers of the state corporation have been interdicted with immediate effect for a period of three months to pave way for investigation,” Mr Kimaiyo said as he listed their names.

PUBLIC FUNDS

This comes barely a week after President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered arrest of those who engaged the five ramp passenger buses at Sh10 million per month.

“This isn’t sustainable. The people behind it will have to be arrested, taken to court and made to return public funds. We must realise that we get these jobs, not to enrich ourselves but to ensure we deliver quality services to the people who have given us the responsibility,’’ the President said.

An internal memo seen by the Daily Nation asks members of staff  to cooperate with those who have replaced the six.

The buses whose tender approval was granted in 2011 were acquired through an open tender awarded to Relief & Mission Logistics at cost of $120,000 per month.

A notification letter was issued in May 2012 and the winner notified in a letter signed by a Mr Mathew Wamalwa May 14, 2012. The contract was signed in April 2014.

This story was written for publication in the Daily Nation