Contractors have raised alarm over what they describe as a deeply entrenched bribery network within Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), calling on both the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and KeRRA headquarters to take swift disciplinary action against two officials based in Makueni County.
The two officers, identified as Moffat Kitheka from the ICT department and Lilian Chepkemoi from procurement, were this week caught in compromising situations receiving bribes from contractors seeking to influence the tendering process.
The incidents are said to have occurred in Kitengela, where the ongoing evaluation of road tenders for Makueni County is being conducted at the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) facility.
According to contractors familiar with the process, the two officials have been summoning bidders and informally “auctioning” tenders to those willing to pay kickbacks. In what appears to have been a coordinated sting operation, undercover agents reportedly captured the officials on camera receiving cash from two contractors who had arrived in Prado and Premio vehicles.
The revelations have sparked outrage among contractors and leaders from Makueni, with some Members of Parliament expressing frustration over what they describe as repeated misconduct by the same individuals.
“This is not the first time these officers are being implicated in corrupt dealings. They are causing a lot of damage and must be disciplined,” said one MP from Makueni. “We will not sit back and allow them to continue undermining fair competition and service delivery.”
Contractors claim that in previous tender evaluations, the same officials influenced outcomes by awarding contracts to unqualified or questionable firms in exchange for bribes, locking out legitimate bidders and compromising the quality of public infrastructure projects.
The latest incident has intensified pressure on the EACC to move quickly, with stakeholders demanding a thorough investigation into the procurement process, including a review of past tenders handled by the implicated officers.
There are also growing calls for KeRRA headquarters to intervene decisively, suspend the officials involved, and restore integrity in the tendering process, as concerns mount over the impact of corruption on road development projects in Makueni County.
As investigations potentially gather pace, attention is likely to shift to whether more officials within the system could be involved, raising broader questions about accountability and oversight in public procurement within the roads sector.
