Senior officials at the Tana Water Works Development Agency (TWWDA have been implicated in an alleged Sh53million tender scam fraudulently awarded after altering the original tender bid price for supply and delivery of Billing Software for Marsabit, Kirinyaga and Nithi Water and Sanitation Companies, The Informer can authoritatively reveal.
According to our investigations, Vision Four Africa Limited was controversially awarded the contract, tender number TWWDA/ADB/003/2021-2022 at a cost of USD. 446,557.72 (Sh53, 799, 562).
However, according to documents in our possession, during tender opening held on January 12, 2022, Vision Four Africa Limited had quoted USD 505, 144 (Sh57, 238,775.9) but the bid price was later mysteriously altered downwards to USD. 446,557.72 (Sh53, 799, 562) during the tender evaluation process.
Three senior officials have been cited as having influenced manipulation of the tender bid sum quoted in favour of the successful tenderer.
Effectively, the irregularities and apparent tendering flaws have now thrown the African Development Bank (AFDB) funded project into disarray allegedly orchestrated at the behest of senior TWWDA officials.
“The tenderers who responded include; Wonderkid Multimedia Limited (17,242,780), Vision Four Africa Limited (USD 505, 144 translating to Sh57,238,775.9), Smart People Africa (53,799,562) and Kenya Airports Parking Services at Sh19,009,520.88.” An insider privy with the evaluation process intimated.
When contacted for comment, TWWDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Engineer Philip Gichuki did responded to phone calls, mail queries and short text messages at the time of going to publication.
The Public Procurement Administrative Review Board (PPARB) has since struck out the petition on the basis of lack of jurisdiction after TWWDA CEO Gichuki filed an affidavit contesting board’s jurisdiction to handle the review.
Previously, Gichuki worked as the Managing Director of the Nairobi City Water and Sewerage Company (NCWSC).
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by section 173 of the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act, 2015, the Board makes the following orders in the request for review dated August 22, 2022:- 1. The request for review dated August 22, 2022 and filed on even date be and is hereby struck out for want of jurisdiction. 2. Given the findings herein, each party shall bear its own cost in the request for review.” PPRAB ruling dated September 12, 2022 reads in part.
The tender evaluation committee chaired by Arthur Mamo comprised of ten members drawn from technical, ICT and Finance departments.
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