After Mining CS John Munyes admitting there is a problem at the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), the company’s Managing Director Joe Sang alongside other top managers who include Vincent Cheruiyot who is the Head of Procurement, Company Secretary Gloria Khafafa, General Manager Infrastructure Billy Letunya Aseka, and Procurement Manager Nicholas Gitobu were arrested on Friday. The Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji cited their alleged involvement in the misappropriation of funds in the course of procurement and construction of the Kisumu Oil Jetty at a cost of over Kshs 2 billion.
Investigations were duly conducted by the DCI, and the DPP has directed the managers to be charged with abuse of office, willful failure to comply with applicable procedures and laws relating to the management of public funds, and engaging in a project without prior planning. The company is currently muddled in controversy, heightened by MD Sang’s earlier revelation that he won’t wish to serve another term at the top seat attributing the decision to personal reasons, even as investigations were to commence on the disappearance of millions of litres of fuel attributed to leakage and theft, a loss that has caused a stand-off between KPC and oil marketers.
Following the arrests, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining held consultations with the KPC board and appointed Mr. Hudson Andambi as the acting KPC MD, “This is to ensure that operations continue without interference for purposes of ensuring the security of supply of petroleum products,” read the statement from the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining.