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The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has arrested Bomas of Kenya CEO Peter Gitaa Koria in connection with an alleged procurement fraud worth Ksh.8,587,831.
The arrest comes after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) approved charges against him on Friday, following an EACC investigation that found him guilty of procurement irregularities and splitting tenders, which resulted in sham supplier awards.
Mr. Koria is currently being held at the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station in Nairobi until his arraignment on Monday.
The ODPP, in an earlier statement to newsrooms, stated that Koria will be charged with wilful failure to comply with procurement laws, engaging in a procurement process without an approved plan and failing to establish an Ad Hoc Inspection and Acceptance Committee to review five tenders he reportedly issued irregularly.
"Koria was found to have engaged in procurement irregularities in the award of the following public tenders: Quotation No.15/Kitchen Items; Quotation No.16/Utensils; Quotation No.17/Kitchen Items; Quotation No.18/Plates & Cups and Quotation No.19/Cutlery & Other Items which were not factored in the Bomas of Kenya's Budget and Procurement Plan FY 2020/2021," read the statement.
The arrest comes exactly a week after the Employment and Labour Relations Court directed the Bomas of Kenya board to 'unconditionally' lift Koria's suspension as communicated vide a letter dated November 20, 2023.
The court also ordered that Koria be reinstated, pending the hearing and determination of the petition in which Koria was suspended for 12 months following recommendations by EACC.
"Considering that no criminal charges have yet been brought against the applicant in terms of section 62 of AECA, 2023 by the 2nd respondent; and keeping in mind that the suspension occurred on 20th November 2023 about five (5) months from the date of this ruling; the applicant has satisfied the threshold required for grant of the interim injunction," the court ruled then.