Kura’s Silas Kinoti
In less than two years, two more activists have again moved to court seeking the removal and suspension of a roads agency chief Silas Kinoti, pending a lifestyle audit. Kinoti has alledgly accumulated millions in the shortest time he has been in office amid fraud and corruption allegations.
The two Stephen Kiiria and John Karuu have sought an order directing the chief executive officer of Kenya Urban Roads Authority Silas Kinoti to proceed on leave, pending the audit and further investigations into the officials within the entire organization.
Kinoti he is also in another multi-billion scandal involving the Ng’ong-Karen dual road project. In court papers, the duo says Kinoti should proceed on leave to pave the way for thorough investigations and for the Assets Recovery Agency to execute its mandate as guided by the law.
The duo argues that there are overwhelming illegalities, irregularities, and circumvention of the law that was done by Kinoti in his capacity as the director general and the CEO of Kenya Urban Roads Authority. unlawful and irregular award of tenders, abuse of office, and mismanagement of public funds by the public,” t” I want this court to note that there is massive corruption, nepotism tribalism, and illegal, he duo state in the court documents.
The duo claimed that there are irregularities in the construction and improvement of three road projects for Sh. 13.2 billion. The projects in question are the establishment of bus rapid transit line 5 at a cost of Sh.6.5billion, the Nairobi intelligent transportation system establishment and junctions’ improvement project phase 1 at a cost of Sh.6.7billion, and the Nairobi Outering Road improvement project.
According to the two, KURRA irregularly entered into contracts with an international company for consultancy in the establishment of the bus rapid transit line on May 24th, 2022 for 39 months. There was also a tender for the Nairobi Intelligent Transport System establishment and junction’s improvement project phase on May 5th, 2022 for 34.5 months.
“The undercurrents at Kenya Urban Roads Authority under the leadership of the Respondent have seen a list of companies and politicians pushing to be awarded tenders secretly rather than being made public. One such firm is Nigerian-owned Reynolds Construction Company contracted to construct the Eastern Missing Link Roads which are several roads in the Industrial Area, parts of the Central Business District, and Parklands, all totaling 16 kilometers,” they claimed.
Among the areas where the contractor was involved in building and refurbishing Gikomba market, a link road from Accra Road to Ngara and Parklands. At the board, the agency has respect for Charles Ciuri, the board chair, and Luka Kimeti representing the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Roads. Kiiria and Karuu further sought a permanent order prohibiting Kinoti from holding his office or executing his duties pending the hearing and determination of this petition.
They want the KURRA boss declared unfit to hold any other public office because he has grossly violated the Constitution and other laws, and is guilty of gross misconduct. They claim that Kinoti has disregarded the whole of chapter 6 of the Constitution which requires persons both state and public officers to uphold integrity. They claim that it has been reiterated times above number that the terms of chapter six of the Constitution to the effect, it was not enacted in vain or for cosmetic reasons; that the authority assigned to a state or public officer is a public trust to be exercised in a manner that demonstrates respect for the people; brings honor to the nation and dignity to the office.
“It commands the enactment of legislation on leadership and integrity, the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, which was enacted for the effective administration of chapter six of the Constitution,” said the duo. They said the Act obligates a State officer to respect the values and principles of the Constitution.
The said Act establishes the General Leadership and Integrity Code, which is a code of conduct applicable to all State officers. In addition to the said Code, the Act requires each public entity to prescribe a specific leadership and integrity code for the State officers in those entities, they added.
Kiiria and Karuu add that removal from office is therefore the Constitution’s final answer, a safety valve, to a State officer or a public servant who mistakes himself for a monarch.
“As they say, power corrupts, and the framers of the Constitution being cognizant of this fact, built guardrails against the autocratic exercise of power by the leaders,” they said in the court documents.
They added, ” unlawful and irregular award of tenders, abuse of office and mismanagement public funds by the public,” t” I want this court to note that there is massive corruption, nepotism tribalism, illegal, he duo state in the court documents,” read the court papers in parts. Justice Enock Mwita has directed them to serve Kinoti and the matter will be mentioned on the 31st of March for further directions Kura BOSS Silas Kinoti