A chilling exposé from the heart of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) has peeled back the layers of a sprawling corruption and nepotism scandal, spotlighting the insidious partnership between KeRRA and Amazon Fronts Limited Human Resource Consultants.
A report has laid bare a sophisticated scheme of irregular contract awards, payroll fraud, and self-serving appointments that threaten to dismantle the agency’s integrity.
The scandal’s roots trace back to the strategic recruitment of Philemon Kandie as Director General of KeRRA, a move masterminded by Patrick Mutisya, the cunning Director of Amazon Fronts Limited.
This calculated placement was merely the opening act.
It soon escalated with a lavish team-building exercise, orchestrated by the same firm, which coerced KeRRA into hemorrhaging millions of taxpayer shillings on extravagant perks and questionable activities, all under the guise of boosting morale.
The audacity continued in 2022 when Amazon Fronts Limited was inexplicably rehired for yet another recruitment drive, further entrenching its grip on the agency.
This cycle of favoritism has seen one-year contracts awarded – routinely renewed each December with backdated effective dates to July 15, despite their official lapse – disproportionately benefiting a select clique.
Investigations reveal that these positions are overwhelmingly occupied by relatives of Kandie and former KeRRA board members, including the two children of Victor Momanyi from the Inspectorate of State Corporations, who appear to have leveraged their father’s influence for these plum roles.
The corruption reached its zenith with the brazen appointment of Patrick Mutisya himself as Director of Corporate Services at KeRRA. This promotion, widely perceived as a quid pro quo for his role in installing Kandie, exemplifies a shameless self-recruitment racket.
Mutisya is curre to pressure the payroll department into processing salaries for individuals whose contracts expired months ago, defying a binding directive that prohibits contract renewals or new hires. This directive stems from KeRRA’s designation as an agency slated for merging, a reform intended to curb wasteful spending and streamline operations – yet it has been flagrantly ignored.
The report paints a harrowing picture of an agency hijacked by a cabal where public funds are siphoned off, and merit is replaced by familial ties and backroom deals.
The recurring involvement of Amazon Fronts Limited suggests a well-orchestrated syndicate, exploiting its consultancy role to funnel benefits to its director and his allies. Payroll records, manipulated to sustain these illicit payments, hint at a broader financial misappropriation that could involve kickbacks, inflated budgets, and falsified documentation.
The lack of competitive bidding for these contracts further fuels allegations of embezzlement, with millions potentially diverted into private accounts.
The scandal’s ripple effects are palpable, with growing public outrage and demands for a thorough investigation. The need for transparency and accountability at KeRRA has never been more urgent.
The public calls for swift action – independent audits, forensic accounting, and legal repercussions – to dismantle this corrupt network.
Only through such measures can trust be restored to an institution entrusted with the nation’s rural infrastructure, ensuring that the roads it builds lead to progress, not plunder.
Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA)
