Ex-EACC boss Waqo snubs MPs on Kemsa probe

Former chief executive officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Halakhe Waqo has for the second time snubbed a parliamentary committee investigating the Sh7.8 billion Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) scandal.

Mr Waqo was expected to appear before the National Assembly Public Investments Committee (PIC) at 4pm yesterday but did not show up. Instead, the former EACC boss called the committee clerk saying he would not make it.

Committee chairman Abdulswamad Nassir warned that the MPs would no longer condone phone calls from Waqo and that if he defies them a third time, the committee will be forced to issue summons compelling him to appear.

“He was supposed to be our next witness but he has called the clerk to say that he is not coming. I have told the clerk not to accept any more phone calls from him and he should write to the committee,” Mr Nassir said. “This is the second time he has failed to appear before this committee. If he fails to appear next time, this committee will be forced to issue summons that he actually be brought here,”

Covid-19 billionaires

According to the Standing Orders, if a witness fails to appear before a parliamentary committee investigating a certain matter for three consecutive times, then the committee can write to the police to arrest the witness and avail him before the committee for questioning.

 Mr Waqo was expected to appear in order to shed light over the Covid-19 billionaires’ scandal after his name was mentioned by a witness last month.

The name of Mr Waqo was mentioned by one of the directors of Aszure Commercial Services, Ms Zubeda Nyamlondo, who told the committee two weeks ago that the former anti-corruption CEO helped it get a loan of KShs347 million at First Community Bank in a bid to be able to supply masks to Kemsa.

KN95 masks

Ms Nyamlondo told MPs that Mr Waqo was a friend that helped the company secure a loan when it could not raise Sh347 million to supply KN95 masks. The company got a tender to supply 50,000 boxes of KN95 each at Sh690

The committee also wants to establish from Mr Waqo whether he is the faceless owner of Aszure Commercial Services and only fronted Ms Nyamlondo to hoodwink the public.

The lawmakers also want to establish why the company, which had an account at Kenya Commercial Bank, decided to go to First Community Bank for a loan.

Documents presented before the committee indicate Aszure Commercial Services initially had three directors namely Dorothy Undwa Omogi, Phanice Adhigo Onsiti and Stanley Kithia Rimbere.

The directorship of the company has however changed and have now only Phanice Adhigo Onsiti and Zubeida Nyamolondo as its directors.