Najib Balala's homes raided by EACC detectives; crucial documents recovered

Najib Balala's homes raided by detectives; crucial documents recovered

Mumbi Mutuko

February 15, 2019 8:17 AM

Balala's homes raided by EACC

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala

Sleuths from the Ethics and Anti Corruption commission raided the homes of Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala where crucial documents are said to have been discovered.

According to reports, Mr Balala's homes in Nairobi, Kilifi and Mombasa were raided on a Monday morning.

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala Pulse Live Kenya

Detectives attached to the anti corruption unit stated that Balala was being investigated for allegedly awarding a Ksh100 million contract through single sourcing to a local firm.

Legality

He was asked allegedly by the EACC to provide tender documents, invoices, payment vouchers and other supporting documents on the legality of the contract.

The firm is said to have been given a contract to offer unspecified services during expos held in Nairobi two years ago.

On Friday the Standard Newspaper stated that the company was claimed to be a scheme for CSs to embezzle State funds.

What raised eyebrows was that the award letter in question was personally signed by the Tourism CS instead of the accounting officer.

Kickbacks

Investigators indicated that the firm was not among those pre-qualified during the contract period and the department did not have a budget for such services.

Reports stated that the EACC is investigating to establish how the firm won the tender without having followed the stipulated laws.

EACC Headquarters in Nairobi Pulse Live Kenya

Notably, the CS's Personal Assistant, Said Athman was quoted having refuted the raid allegations stating that the Mr Balala was not aware of any such investigations by the EACC.

This raid comes in the backdrop of allegations that some CSs had been receiving kickbacks in order to award tenders to international firms which the DPP and DCI warned against.

Mumbi Mutuko