Detectives from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) arrested Henry Mwasaru, the Head of Human Resources and Administration at the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), on Tuesday over allegations of procurement fraud.
Mwasaru is accused of playing a central role in a fraudulent tender process for KMA’s medical cover, valued at sh. 40,539,760.
He was apprehended in Naivasha, where he had been attending a training session, as part of an operation targeting two insurance brokers implicated in the scam.
Mwasaru was swiftly transported to the EACC Integrity Centre in Nairobi for further questioning.
The investigation into Mwasaru began after a complaint was filed with EACC’s Lower Coast Regional Office in Mombasa on September 30, 2024.
The whistleblower raised concerns about irregularities in the tender process, prompting the inquiry.
EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi confirmed that Mwasaru allegedly conspired with Bevaline Lundu, the Head of Supply Chain Management at KMA, to illegally award the medical insurance tender in violation of procurement laws.
Following a search operation at their respective residences, Mwasaru and two other suspects were taken to EACC offices in Nairobi and Mombasa for interviews and statement recording.
They were later released pending the conclusion of the investigation.
EACC emphasized that the operation, conducted under court orders, had uncovered crucial evidence to aid the ongoing probe.
The commission is increasing its focus on public institution tenders for staff medical insurance, which have become a common avenue for embezzlement through bid rigging and kickbacks.
The EACC stated that the outcome of the investigation will determine whether prosecution or recovery of fraudulently misappropriated funds will follow.
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