Head of Public Service Felix Koskei orders suspension of six CEOs, 67 police officers over graft allegations

President William Ruto's Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has ordered the suspension of six Chief Executive Officers over alleged corruption and procurement irregularities in their institutions.

He has also ordered for the suspension of 67 police officers and an accountant at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).

The six Executives are; 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), Peter Gitaa Koria (CEO, Bomas of Kenya) and Eng. Anthony Wamukota (GM, Design & Construction, KETRACO).

The directives follow recommendations by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for the suspension of the officers, who are currently under investigation.

Eng. Mwamati is currently under investigation for suspected procurement irregularities related to the tender award for the construction of a Leather Industrial Park Water Supply Project, while Mr. Ogenga is being probed for alleged procurement irregularities concerning a tender award for supplies at NITA.

Mr. Ong’alo is under investigation for involvement in the misappropriation of Ksh.490 million through irregular payments, whereas Mr. Chilumo is facing corruption allegations from his tenure as the Chief Finance Officer in the County Government of Kilifi.

Mr. Koria is being probed for irregularly procuring supplies at the Bomas of Kenya, while Eng. Wamukota is being investigated over procurement irregularities related to the construction contract of the 400KV Loiyangalani Power Project.

The KeRRA accountant, Esther Wanjiru Chege, on the other hand, is being probed over alleged conflict of interest and possession of unexplained wealth.

"In these letters, the EACC states that the continued stay in office of the mentioned officers during the investigation will interfere with and undermine its work," Koskei said in a statement to newsrooms on Thursday.