DCI Kinoti probes why luxury towels were supplied in Sh63 billion Kerio Valley dam scandal

DCI Kinoti probes why luxury towels were supplied in Sh63 billion dam scandal

Tony Mukere

February 27, 2019 10:56 AM

Ruto's chief of staff among those on the spot

DCI Kinoti probes why luxury towels were supplied in Sh63 billion Kerio Valley dam scandal

The Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI) George Kinoti is probing the circumstances under which luxury towels, carpets, and tiles were supplied in the Sh63 Arror dam scandal.

Kinoti said he was intrigued after summoning directors of the companies that were given tenders for supplies of various items.

“One of he companies told us they delivered towels worth Sh20 million, while another delivered tiles and carpets. We are asking them how this is related to construction of a dam and they are not able to answer,” Kinoti said.

DCI Kinoti probes why luxury towels were supplied in Sh63 billion Kerio Valley dam scandal Pulse Live Kenya

Ken Osinde

Tiles and Carpet Centre (K) ltd and Silent Nights Ltd (a luxury towels supplier) are some of the companies that have been called to assist the DCI handled the multi-billion probe.

A company where Deputy President William Ruto's chief of staff Ken Osinde is a director, is also being investigated.

Some of the directors reportedly told the DCI that they had been asked to supply materials unrelated to the dam, to a private home in Eldoret, Nairobi, and some in Mombasa.

Kinoti said he was infuriated to learn that Kerio Valley Development Authority officials, together with their co-conspirators from Treasury, paid Sh21 billion to Italian firm CMC di Ravenna as part of the Kimwarer and Arror dams – long before even the designs of the projects were ready.

“When we asked them for the designs, they said they are doing them,” Kinoti stated.

The Italian firm is also said to be unaware of the location of the dams which it was supposed to have started developing in November 2017.

“The Italian contractors say they don’t have money because it was taken away. They can’t explain, yet we are servicing a loan as a country. This is sad and merciless,” the DCI added.

Tony Mukere