By Betty Luke
Isiolo County Assembly Clerk Salad Boru Guracha and former Speaker Mohammed Tupi have been arrested over alleged irregular procurement and award of Sh28 million tender for construction of perimeter fence, gate house, pavement works and parking lot with shade six years ago.
The two alongside an official to the company that was awarded the work in May 2016 and Mr Tupi’s then personal assistant Joseph Gatama are believed to have influenced the procurement process and award of Tender No ISL/CA/1/2015 to M/S Malka Constructors Limited.
Documents seen by The Press Point show that the idea to construct a perimeter fence, renovate some existing structures and other works was hatched during a Kamukunji meeting between former Governor Godana Doyo, Mr Tupi who is vying for Isiolo South MP seat on Jubilee Party ticket and other county officials in Mombasa in late 2015.
It was agreed that the County Assembly move out of the premises it then shared with the executive to an area that previously housed TB Manyatta.
But investigations by EACC following complaints that the process was skewed would later establish that the three received a total of Sh140, 000 bribe from the company’s director Waqo Gufu Boru between the Mombasa meeting date and May 6, 2016 when the tender was awarded.
The Sh28, 409, 979 project however did not take off after the anti-graft agency intervened and stopped its implementation.
The pair was arrested by EACC detectives from Upper Eastern region office Wednesday morning and grilled for several hours before recording their statements.
Sources revealed that Mr Gatama and Mr Gufu will be charged alongside the two for among others abuse of office, conflict of interest and uttering a false document.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has already recommended that the four be charged for the offences.
“It is true we have arrested Assembly Clerk and former Speaker. They will be arraigned next week to face corruption charges,” the source who did not want to be named said.
