Vihiga Roads CEC Accused Of Dirty Dealings In Tender Awarding

Vihiga governor Wilber Ottichilo has been drawn into a supremacy war pitting local contractors against alleged outsiders over award of multimillion projects. A new association of road contractors based in the area claimed the CEC in-charge of roads Emanuel Tunya is working in cahoots with individuals from outside the county to deny locals jobs.

Speaking to Weekly Citizen on phone Samuel Alwanga claimed that of the 45 road contracts on going in the county, 42 jobs were awarded to one contractor using several companies and proxies. “We have observed a trend where companies associated with a Mumias politician Kembu are being awarded jobs using different companies as our applications are rejected on flimsy grounds,” he said. He claimed there were also plans afoot to award 20 other jobs that were advertised last month to the same contractor, saying the move is in bad faith and is aimed at killing local contractors.

Emanuel Etale Tunya

Alwanga alleged that the governor is fully aware and that he is receiving kickbacks from the proprietor of Kembu and Sons Company that has bagged several road contracts since the governor took over. Investigations by the Weekly Citizen show that several award letters were given out to three companies associated with the politician for maintenance of roads within three sub counties of Vihiga.

The contractors have threatened to storm the office of CEO roads and public works if the award of tenders in the building of roads sector is not streamlined to take care of their interests saying as locals, they were entitled at contractual jobs from the county. Ottichilo has been at loggerheads with MCAs over his operations as the county boss since the beginning of his second term. He has been accused of performing below their expectations.