Powerful Men behind Safran Controversial Deal with Kenya Exposed

mary kulundu

September 19, 2017 12:21 PM

Here it is

Emerging details now indicate that NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga and Siaya Senator James Orengo were the first people involved in pushing the Government into entering a contract with Safran Morpho.

Safran is a French multinational company, specialized in security and identity solutions which supplied Kenya with the Kenya Integrated Electronic Management System kits.

Divulging the information, Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa stated that the two distinguished leaders led the Government to sign a contract with Safran in 2012.

"In 2012, the election sub-committee was under Raila... His proposal (for direct procurement) was seconded by (Siaya Senator) James Orengo, who was then the Lands Cabinet minister.

“Raila knows how the company got the contract and he cannot now lie to Kenyans that the company has a bad reputation,” the CS said.

Wamalwa and former Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba spoke during Deputy President William Ruto's campaign rally in Budalang'i, Busia County where they questioned why Odinga was attacking IEBC for contracting Safran yet he supported it in 2012.

"I was in charge of the constitutional docket under Raila when he, Mr. Orengo and Caroli Omondi proposed the company to be given a direct contract to supply the kits. We did it and I do not know what has changed that they now want it (the firm) punished,” Wamalwa was quoted by the Standard.

This comes at a time when the former Prime Minister has called for the French Government to investigate whether Safran was involved in election malpractice in the just concluded General Election.

He added that the company did not win the tender legally.

“We know the top government and the IEBC officials who colluded to steal the elections. Safran Morpho did not win the tender to supply the technology. It was single-sourced," he said.

On Monday, Odinga threatened to name IEBC officials who were bribed.

mary kulundu