Bomas of Kenya CEO Peter Gitaa Koria arrested over Ksh.8M kitchen utensil tenders

Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) have arrested Bomas of Kenya CEO Peter Gitaa Koria over an alleged Ksh.8,587,831 procurement fraud.

The arrest comes after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) on Friday approved charges against him following an EACC probe that found him culpable of procurement irregularities and splitting tenders leading to sham awards to suppliers.

Mr. Koria is presently being held at the EACC Integrity Centre Police Station in Nairobi pending 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.

In November 2023, EACC recommended to the Head of Public Service the suspension of six CEOs, 67 police officers and an accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) over alleged corruption and procurement irregularities. Koria was among the CEOs suspended.

The other Executives included; Eng. Fredrick Mwamati (CEO, Tanathi Water Works Development Agency), Stephen Ogenga (DG, National Industrial Training Authority), Stanvas Ong’alo (Acting DG, National Museums of Kenya), Benjamin Kai Chilumo (CEO, Huduma Centre Secretariat), and Eng. Anthony Wamukota (GM, Design & Construction, KETRACO).