Kenya Insights

Tag: Philemon Kandie

  • EXPLOSIVE DOSSIER: THE SECRET FILE THAT COULD DESTROY CAREERS – INSIDE KERRA’S SHOCKING CERTIFICATE SCANDAL

    EXPLOSIVE DOSSIER: THE SECRET FILE THAT COULD DESTROY CAREERS – INSIDE KERRA’S SHOCKING CERTIFICATE SCANDAL

    Former DG Accused of Running Shadow Verification Scheme That Bypassed HR and Violated Staff Rights

    NAIROBI – A bombshell investigation has uncovered what insiders are calling “one of the most brazen abuses of power” in Kenya’s public service: a clandestine certificate verification exercise at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) that allegedly violated constitutional rights, circumvented official protocols, and may have been weaponized to settle personal scores.

    At the center of the explosive scandal? Former Director-General Eng. Philemon Kandie, who is now accused of orchestrating a secretive verification process in 2022 using a handpicked external consultant—completely sidelining the Human Resources Department and burying the results for three years.

    THE MIDNIGHT CONSULTANT: How KeRRA’s Verification Went Rogue

    Multiple sources within KeRRA have revealed the stunning details of what they describe as an “unauthorized and deeply compromised” operation. In a move that has sent shockwaves through the organization, Eng. Kandie allegedly brought in an external consultant—reportedly without transparent procurement or proper vetting—and granted this individual unrestricted access to confidential staff files.

    “This wasn’t just irregular. It was unprecedented,” said one senior KeRRA official who spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retaliation. “The HR Department, which by law should have led this process, was completely frozen out. We were kept in the dark while someone we’d never vetted rifled through our colleagues’ most sensitive documents.”

    The legal violations are staggering. According to the Public Service Commission (PSC) Regulations (2020), certificate verification is explicitly the responsibility of the “Authorized Officer”—typically the Head of Human Resources. The Employment Act (2007) demands protection of employee information and prohibits discrimination in employment decisions. Yet by every account, both regulations were trampled.

    Article 232 of Kenya’s Constitution mandates that public service operate with “high standards of professional ethics, transparency, and accountability.” Critics charge that Kandie’s secret operation violated every single principle.

    THREE YEARS OF SILENCE: The Report That Disappeared

    But here’s where the plot thickens dramatically.

    For three years—from 2022 until Kandie’s departure in 2025—the verification report remained locked away in the former DG’s office. It was never presented to the management board. Never reviewed by HR. Never validated by the PSC. Never seen by the very staff whose careers it could destroy.

    “If this report was legitimate, why hide it like nuclear codes?” demanded one incredulous employee. “Why keep it secret for three years, only to suddenly demand its implementation the moment you’re walking out the door?”

    According to multiple credible sources, Kandie handed over the report to the incoming Director-General only during the transition period—and has since been allegedly pressuring the new leadership, along with sympathizers within KeRRA and the PSC, to implement its findings immediately.

    The timing has raised red flags across the organization.

    VENDETTA OR VERIFICATION? Staff Cry Foul Over Alleged Targeting

    The real bombshell? Staff members believe the report may have been deliberately manipulated to target specific individuals.

    Colleagues describe Kandie’s management style in damning terms: vindictive, controlling, and prone to using administrative tools—transfers, evaluations, disciplinary measures—as weapons against perceived enemies.

    Now, terrified employees are asking: Were files tampered with? Were fake documents planted? Were legitimate credentials removed?

    “We have reason to believe certain files were doctored,” claimed one staff member, visibly shaken. “People who crossed the former DG professionally are now finding their qualifications mysteriously ‘unverifiable.’ It’s too convenient to be coincidence.”

    Article 41(1) of the Constitution guarantees every worker the right to fair labour practices. Section 46(h) of the Employment Act explicitly prohibits punishment or discrimination unrelated to work performance. If the allegations prove true, this wasn’t a verification exercise—it was character assassination by administrative decree.

    THE LAW IS CRYSTAL CLEAR: This Should Never Have Happened

    Legal experts consulted for this investigation are unequivocal: what allegedly happened at KeRRA represents a wholesale violation of established protocols.

    The PSC Human Resource Policies and Procedures Manual (2023) and the Code of Conduct and Ethics for the Public Service (2016) are explicit:

    ✓ HR must lead all verification exercises
    ✓ Staff records must remain confidential
    ✓ Proper authentication channels (KNEC, KRA, professional bodies) must be used

    Section 27 of the Public Service (Values and Principles) Act, 2015 mandates transparency and accountability in all HR practices. A process “conducted in secrecy” or perceived to target individuals directly violates statutory obligations.

    “This isn’t just bad practice—it’s potentially actionable,” warned one employment law specialist. “Staff whose careers are damaged by this report could have grounds for legal action against both the authority and individuals involved.”

    STAFF REVOLT: Demand for Justice Grows Louder

    Faced with what they view as an existential threat to their careers and livelihoods, KeRRA employees are fighting back.

    In a powerful joint statement circulating internally, staff have issued uncompromising demands:

    🔴 Immediate disposal of the 2022 “Kandie Report”
    🔴 Formation of a transparent, multi-agency verification team led by HR
    🔴 Independent audit of the 2022 consultant’s work to detect file tampering
    🔴 Public communication of any new verification process methodology

    “We’re not against accountability,” stressed one employee representative. “We welcome legitimate verification. But this report is poisoned fruit. It was born in secrecy, kept in darkness, and now being rushed to judgment. That’s not integrity—that’s intimidation.”

    THE SMOKING GUN QUESTIONS

    This scandal leaves behind five devastating questions that demand answers:

    1. Why was HR excluded from its own constitutional mandate?

    2. Why did Kandie sit on the report for three years before suddenly pushing for implementation?

    3. What safeguards—if any—prevented tampering with confidential files by external parties?

    4. Why are some PSC insiders reportedly pressuring validation of a report that violates PSC’s own protocols?

    5. If the report was credible, why wasn’t it immediately acted upon in 2022?

    Until these questions receive satisfactory answers, the entire exercise remains fundamentally compromised.

    THE CROSSROADS: New Leadership Faces Defining Test

    KeRRA’s new Director-General now faces a career-defining decision.

    The path forward is clear: Discard the tainted 2022 report. Launch a new, transparent verification process led by HR professionals in strict accordance with PSC regulations, labour law, and constitutional provisions.

    Such decisive action would send an unmistakable message: The era of governance-by-vendetta is over. Due process, fairness, and genuine integrity are the new order.

    The alternative? Implementing a compromised report that could spark legal challenges, destroy innocent careers, and permanently stain KeRRA’s reputation.

    CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS OR MOMENT OF REDEMPTION?

    This scandal strikes at the very heart of Kenya’s reformed public service. Article 232 promised Kenyans a civil service built on merit, transparency, and accountability—not secret files, shadow consultants, and suspected score-settling.

    Staff aren’t asking for special treatment. They’re demanding their constitutional rights. They’re insisting on the very principles that should govern every public institution in Kenya.

    The question now is whether those in power will uphold those principles—or whether the “Kandie Report” will be allowed to detonate careers based on a process that violated every rule it claimed to enforce.

    As one KeRRA employee put it with devastating simplicity: “We deserve verification, not victimization. We deserve transparency, not terror. We deserve the law, not one man’s vendetta.”

    The eyes of Kenya’s public service are now on KeRRA. The Constitution is clear. The law is settled.

    The only question remaining: Will justice prevail?

    Efforts to reach former DG Eng. Philemon Kandie for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.

     

  • Former KeRRA DG Kandie Arrested in Night Raid by EACC

    Former KeRRA DG Kandie Arrested in Night Raid by EACC

    Former Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) Director General Philemon Kandie was on Friday night arrested in a dramatic raid at his Nairobi home by officers from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

    The anti-graft officials swooped in on Kandie’s residence on October 3, confiscating electronic devices, documents, and other materials before escorting him to Integrity Centre for interrogation.

    Sources indicated that investigators are probing allegations of graft and financial impropriety linked to his tenure at the helm of KeRRA.

    While the EACC has not issued an official statement on the specific charges, Kandie’s arrest follows weeks of speculation about possible investigations into his management of the multi-billion-shilling roads agency.

    Kandie, who resigned from KeRRA in July—two years before his term was due to end—has faced mounting scrutiny.

    His abrupt exit, announced by KeRRA on July 11, came amid a High Court petition seeking his removal on claims that he diverted public funds to finance the violent June 25 nationwide protests.

    The petition accused the former DG of allegedly channeling money through shell contractors linked to KeRRA to bankroll logistics for groups behind the unrest, allegations he has consistently denied.

    In his resignation letter, Kandie said he was proceeding on annual leave before officially leaving office on October 10, but his sudden departure triggered speculation of deeper troubles.

    He has since been replaced in an acting capacity by Jackson Magondu, the authority’s Director of Planning, Design and Environment.

    EACC officials are expected to grill Kandie over procurement accounts and financial trails flagged in past audits, with investigators saying the evidence collected in the raid will be key to determining whether charges will be filed.

    Kandie, a career engineer and holder of the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS), is now the latest senior public official to be caught up in anti-graft investigations that have rocked key government agencies in recent months.

  • Drama at KeRRA as Ex-DG Kandie Breaks Down in Boardroom Showdown Over Forced Resignation

    Drama at KeRRA as Ex-DG Kandie Breaks Down in Boardroom Showdown Over Forced Resignation

    Insiders reveal shocking details of how the once-powerful roads chief crumbled under pressure

    The corridors of power witnessed unprecedented drama when the former Kenya Rural Roads Authority Director General Philemon Kandie reportedly broke down in tears and lost control of his bladder during a tense board meeting that sealed his fate.

    According to well-placed sources within KeRRA, what was supposed to be a routine board session turned into a theatrical spectacle as Kandie realized his carefully cultivated network of allies had abandoned him when push came to shove.

    Whispers from the boardroom paint a picture of a man who had grown accustomed to wielding influence through his “ill-equipped wealth” suddenly finding himself isolated. Board members who had previously been in his pocket reportedly kept telling the increasingly distraught Kandie that “orders from above had to be obeyed.”

    The drama reached its peak when Kandie, sensing the walls closing in, excused himself from the meeting to make frantic phone calls. Sources say he desperately tried to reach Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and other power brokers, but his calls went unanswered.

    “He came back sweating profusely, talking to himself in Kalenjin language,” revealed one insider who witnessed the spectacle. The once-confident administrator was reportedly reduced to tears, “flowing like a baby,” as the reality of his situation sank in.

    The final blow came via a phone call from State House, after which Kandie, still weeping, signed his resignation letter. Sources suggest Transport Cabinet Secretary David Chirchir had contacted State House when Kandie initially refused to step down.

    Perhaps most chilling was the reported message delivered to Kandie: “mambo ni matatu” – either resign, get arrested, or face dire consequences. The choice, it seems, was no choice at all.

    Since his dramatic exit, Kandie has reportedly gone into hiding at his Nairobi residence, with no visitors allowed. His downfall stems from investigations into how KeRRA paid contractors Sh200 million beyond agreed amounts, ballooning a Sh1.22 billion budget to Sh1.42 billion – a violation of the Public Finance Management Act.

    Perhaps most damaging to Kandie’s reputation are claims that he had been blacklisted but used millions to buy his way into the coveted position. If true, this would explain the dramatic nature of his removal and his apparent shock at being abandoned by those he thought he had purchased.

    The Kandie saga serves as a stark reminder that in Kenya’s political landscape, loyalty is often transactional, and when the political winds shift, even the most well-connected can find themselves crying alone in boardrooms, their carefully constructed networks crumbling like houses of cards.

    What remains to be seen is whether this dramatic fall from grace will lead to further investigations into the culture of corruption that apparently allowed a blacklisted individual to purchase such a sensitive position in the first place.

  • Rogue Director General: Accountability Crisis at Kenya Rural Roads Authority Demands Urgent Action

    Rogue Director General: Accountability Crisis at Kenya Rural Roads Authority Demands Urgent Action

    By Joseph Kithii

    The Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) finds itself at the center of mounting allegations of corruption and mismanagement that can no longer be ignored. While Senator Samson Cherargei’s recent statements may initially sound dramatic, stakeholders across the roads sector increasingly echo his concerns about the authority’s leadership.

    At the heart of these concerns is KeRRA Director General Engineer Philemon Kandie, whose continued tenure raises significant questions.

    Court rulings have declared his recruitment process illegal, yet he remains in office.

    This situation undermines public confidence in both the institution and the broader governance framework that should ensure accountability in public appointments.

    The optics of leadership at KeRRA also raise eyebrows. Reports indicate that the Director General travels in a convoy of three Toyota Land Cruiser Prados accompanied by multiple bodyguards—a level of security detail that appears disproportionate for the position within the government hierarchy.

    Such displays of privilege, funded by taxpayers, send troubling signals about priorities within the organization.

    Former Senator Johnstone Muthama has publicly criticized what he describes as skewed allocation of road projects across counties, raising questions about the criteria used in project distribution.

    These allegations point to potential corruption in the tender allocation process—a serious concern given KeRRA’s mandate to improve rural infrastructure equitably across Kenya.

    Further troubling are reports about the Director General’s work patterns. Sources suggest irregular office attendance, with responsibilities frequently delegated to the Director of Road Asset Management, Engineer Kombo.

    Such absenteeism raises questions about oversight and leadership effectiveness at a critical infrastructure agency.

    Eng. Kombo has become notorious with his devilish relationship with rogue contractors mostly from the Somali community whom he’s often seen with in hotels as he collect bribes and allegedly award irregular contracts.

    The allegations surrounding KeRRA’s leadership extend beyond individual conduct to systemic issues affecting Kenya’s rural development.

    Road infrastructure is fundamental to economic growth, market access, and service delivery in rural areas.

    When the agency responsible for this critical mandate faces credibility challenges, the entire rural development agenda suffers.

    The concentration of tender awards among specific contractor demographics, as alleged, also raises questions about fair competition and value for money in public procurement.

    Kenya’s procurement laws exist precisely to prevent such concentration and ensure equitable opportunities for qualified contractors.

    These allegations demand thorough investigation by relevant oversight bodies, including Parliament, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Office of the Auditor General.

    The public deserves transparency about KeRRA’s operations, tender processes, and leadership conduct.

    President William Ruto’s administration, which has positioned itself as committed to fighting corruption, faces a test of this commitment.

    Allowing questionable practices to continue at KeRRA would undermine the administration’s credibility on governance issues.

    The way forward requires:
    – Immediate investigation of all allegations by competent authorities
    – Review of KeRRA’s procurement processes and project allocation criteria
    – Evaluation of the Director General’s continued tenure given legal challenges to his appointment
    – Implementation of stronger oversight mechanisms to prevent future occurrences

    Kenya’s rural communities, who depend on KeRRA’s services, deserve better.

    The authority’s mandate is too important to be compromised by questions of corruption and mismanagement. Swift action to address these concerns is not just necessary—it’s urgent.

    The author is a concerned citizen committed to transparency and accountability in public service.

  • Exclusive: Investigation Uncovers Recruitment Fraud at KeRRA

    Exclusive: Investigation Uncovers Recruitment Fraud at KeRRA

    An extensive investigation by Kenya Insights has revealed systematic corruption in the recruitment processes at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), involving senior officials, questionable consultancy contracts, and apparent nepotism.

    At the center of the scandal is Patrick Mutisya, who simultaneously serves as director at Amazon Fronts Limited and Eagle HR Consultants while allegedly manipulating KeRRA’s hiring processes to benefit himself and associates.

    “This appears to be a classic case of institutional capture,” said an insider who requested anonymity. “When procurement and hiring processes are compromised, it affects not just employment fairness but ultimately the quality of infrastructure delivered to Kenyans.”

    Self-Dealing and Conflict of Interest

    The investigation uncovered multiple concerning connections:

    – Amazon Fronts Limited reportedly recruited Eng. Philemon Kandie as Director General of KeRRA before later receiving a multi-million shilling contract to conduct team-building exercises for the authority.

    – In 2022, the same firm handled recruitment that resulted in numerous relatives of KeRRA’s leadership receiving one-year contracts: Kandie’s, board members’ and Victor Momanyi (from the Inspectorate of State Corporations), whose two children were allegedly given jobs.

    – In what appears to be the most flagrant conflict of interest, Eagle HR Consultants—where Mutisya serves as CEO—allegedly managed the recruitment process that resulted in Mutisya himself being hired as Director of Corporate Services at KeRRA.

    Sources within the authority suggest Mutisya’s appointment was a “reward” for helping Kandie secure the Director General position, creating what observers describe as a revolving door of favors.

    Recent Recruitment Process Questioned

    KeRRA’s recent advertisements for high-level positions, including Director Corporate Services, Director Engineering, and Deputy Director of Human Resources, have raised further concerns.

    Despite the public call for applications, insiders claim the selection process has been predetermined.

    “The advertisements are merely procedural,” claimed a source familiar with KeRRA’s operations. “The candidates have already been identified through the same networks.”

    To further complicate the web of deception in the recruitments of key government agencies, Ben Chumo, former Kenya Power MD has also been listed as a director of the Board at Eagle HR consultants which is the firm at the center of alleged fraudulent recruitment practices.

    A trail of this web and other agencies the firms have been involved in recruitment exercises could give the scale of alleged recruitment flaws.

    These allegations, constitute violations of Public Procurement Laws and Chapter Six of the Constitution concerning leadership integrity; Mutisya’s firms recruiting him and his associates violates, hiring relatives of DG and board members undermines fair competition and dubious contracts (like the “team-building” exercise) drain millions from taxpayers.

    Calls for Investigation

    There are now growing calls for immediate intervention by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Service Commission.

    “The Parliamentary Committee on Transport should summon KeRRA’s leadership to explain these apparent violations,” said a civil society representative tracking governance issues in the infrastructure sector.

  • KeRRA Recruitment Scandal: Amazon Fronts Limited at Center of Self-Dealing Allegations

    KeRRA Recruitment Scandal: Amazon Fronts Limited at Center of Self-Dealing Allegations

    A scandal involving alleged nepotism and conflict of interest has emerged at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA), where a recruitment firm appears to have orchestrated a scheme to place its own director in a senior position while facilitating questionable hiring practices.

    The Circular Recruitment

    According to information reviewed by this publication, Amazon Fronts Limited Human Resource Consultants, a recruitment firm led by Patrick Mutisya, was initially contracted to recruit for the position of Director General at KeRRA. The firm successfully placed Philemon Kandie in this top position.

    What followed appears to be a pattern of reciprocal benefits. After Kandie’s appointment, Amazon Fronts Limited was awarded a contract to conduct team building exercises that reportedly cost KeRRA “millions” in public funds.

    The relationship didn’t end there. In 2022, Amazon Fronts Limited was again contracted by KeRRA for another recruitment exercise.

    Most troubling, however, was what happened next: the firm’s own director, Patrick Mutisya, was appointed to the position of Director of Corporate Services at KeRRA.

    Sources familiar with the matter described this appointment as “a gift” to Mutisya for his role in placing Kandie as Director General, raising serious questions about procurement integrity and conflicts of interest in public appointments.

    Nepotism Allegations

    The scandal extends beyond the leadership positions. Sources indicate that individuals recruited to one-year contract positions at KeRRA are “mostly relatives” of the Director General and former Board Members.

    In one specific case, Victor Momanyi from the Inspectorate of State Corporations allegedly has two children who were recruited to positions at KeRRA, further suggesting nepotistic practices within the agency.

    The revelations come at a time when President William Ruto’s Special Economic Advisor, Moses Kuria, has proposed dissolving KeRRA entirely.

    In a statement issued on April 25, 2025, the former Public Service Cabinet Secretary called for a radical overhaul of Kenya’s roads sector.

    Kuria’s six-point plan includes:

    – Maintaining only the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) under national government control
    – Disbanding both KeRRA and the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA)
    – Establishing County Roads Authorities in all 47 counties
    – Distributing Roads Maintenance Levy Fund according to the Commission for Revenue Allocation formula
    – Empowering County Roads Authorities to issue securitization instruments

    While Kuria’s proposal appears unrelated to the current scandal, it raises questions about whether governance concerns at KeRRA may have influenced his reform agenda.

    The alleged self-dealing arrangement between Amazon Fronts Limited and KeRRA leadership represents a potential violation of public procurement laws and ethics regulations governing conflicts of interest in public service.

    Road infrastructure development represents one of Kenya’s largest public expenditures, with billions allocated annually across the various roads authorities. Ensuring these funds are managed transparently is critical for the country’s development agenda.

    KeRRA officials have not responded to requests for comment on these allegations as of publication time.

  • KeRRA Under Probe For Sh200 Million Overpayment in Road Project

    KeRRA Under Probe For Sh200 Million Overpayment in Road Project

    Lawmakers are investigating how the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) paid contractors Sh200 million beyond the agreed contract amount for a rural roads project in Western Kenya.

    The Ministry of Roads and Transport faced tough questions from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) over unexplained overpayments for consultancy charges and project financing meant for rural road and market infrastructure improvements.

    Documents tabled before the PAC revealed that the project, initially budgeted at Sh1.22 billion, ended up costing Sh1.42 billion, an excess of Sh207.8 million—a violation of the Public Finance Management Act.

    “On the statement of receipts and payments and other project information, as of June 2023, the project had received total funding of Sh1.427 billion against an agreed contractual funding of Sh1.220 billion, which was not explained,” the Auditor General’s report noted.

    The report further revealed that the scandal ridden KeRRA had violated procurement regulations, with evidence of both overpayment and underpayment for various projects.

    Lawmakers, led by Tindi Mwale, questioned why the statement of receipts showed an overpayment of Sh225.6 million, yet the total balance stood at Sh435 million, with no clear justification for the discrepancy.

    Principal Secretary Joseph Mbugua denied any over-financing, arguing that the figures had not been properly adjusted to reflect the financing agreement.

    “The financing agreement was between the development partner and the National Treasury. The difference between Sh1.47 billion and the agreed Sh1.27 billion is the UK component for the project—it is not over-financing,” Mbugua explained.

    However, Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo dismissed the explanation, stating:

    “You can’t amend what you don’t need to amend. If you say there was no over-financing, then stop there. But if you say you adjusted, you are admitting there was over-financing.”

    The Auditor General also flagged Sh66.2 million in pending payments, which have remained unsettled for over a year, exposing the project to interest charges and penalties.

    The prolonged non-settlement of these bills has raised concerns over the financial risks associated with the project, with MPs warning that the delays could further inflate costs and stall completion.

    The PAC is expected to summon more officials from the Ministry of Roads and Transport for further clarification on the irregular payments.

    KeRRA Boss Kandie involvement in over quoting tenders

    This doesn’t come as a surprise, Philemon Kiprop Kandie, the corrupt Director General of KeRRA has been embroiled in multiple multibillion road construction tender disputes.

    In a previous matter, he Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has accused KeRRA of procurement fraud, alleging that a road upgrading tender was irregularly awarded to Shengli Engineering Construction, which had the highest bid, instead of Guanxi Hydroelectric, which had the lowest bid. The PPRA claims this was part of a conspiracy involving corrupt KeRRA staff and politically connected individuals to defraud Kenyan taxpayers.

    In the contested tender, one firm contesting the award, claiming it was overquoted by Sh1 billion. The PPRA warned Kandie against taking any action on the tenders until the matter is resolved, emphasizing the need to safeguard public resources. Despite the ongoing investigation, Kandie dismissed the probe, claiming the tender has already been awarded with the support of high-ranking officials, including President William Ruto and then Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen.

    Kandie’s tenure has been controversial, including a court ruling in 2023 that found his appointment illegal, though he remains in office.

  • KeRRA Boss Philemon Kandie Shows Court Of Appeal The Middle Finger By Refusing To Leave Office Despite An Order

    KeRRA Boss Philemon Kandie Shows Court Of Appeal The Middle Finger By Refusing To Leave Office Despite An Order

    The Court of Appeal on Monday July 10 declined to suspend the removal of the Director General of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) Philemon Kiprop Kandie, pending the determination of an appeal filed by the agency.

    However, despite the court order, Kandie continued performing his duties as the agency’s DG and even chaired a meeting on Tuesday, July11.

    Kandie was removed from his position in late May after Employment and Labour Court judge James Rika ruled that the process was marred by illegalities and procedural impropriety.

    Justices Hellen Omondi, John Mativo and Ngenye Macharia however said nothing stops Kandie from applying for the position if it is advertised.

    They further ruled that if the agency feels that its operations will be impended due to lack of a holder of the office, nothing prevents it from starting afresh the recruitment process.

    KeRRA board chairman Oyuko Mbeche had sought the suspension of the ouster, pending the determination of an appeal he has filed.

    It was his argument that the position might be filled, yet Kandie was never given a chance to give his side of the story.

    The bench of three judges further said no significant loss, injury or prejudice is likely to be suffered by any of the parties, if the removal of Kandie is not suspended.

    “Further and in the same vein, we are not convinced of this argument by both counsel that the applicant would be prejudiced by the process as he is already recruited on a five-year contract. We say so because nothing prevents him from reapplying for the position or that the respondent cannot appoint him if he is the successful candidate,” the judges said.

    The judges said while the appeal by Ayuko was arguable, they were not satisfied that the intended appeal shall be rendered nugatory if stay order is not granted.

    While nullifying the appointment of Kandie, the court had agreed with Samson Nzivo Muthiani that KeRRA was bound by the 21-day rule on advertising and the agency failed to place the advertisement on the Public Service Commission Website or on radio and other modes of communication.

    Muthiani had argued that the process of confirming Kandie was characterised by bad faith as public bodies should not go into the interview process with predetermined outcomes.

    Dissatisfied, Ayuko in his capacity as the chairman of the board argued that none of the board members of KeRRA was made a party to the proceedings which would have enabled them to ventilate the process they used in the recruitment.

    Ayuko submitted that Kandie’s employment was terminated without going through the due process under the Employment Act, and without affording him an opportunity to be heard.

    He informed the court that the intended appeal is arguable and has with high chances of success on the grounds that the judgment violated Kandie’s right to be heard, right to a fair hearing and fair administrative action as provided for in the Constitution.

    He said Kandie was serving a 5-year fixed contract and if the decision is not suspended, the period shall lapse.

    He added that the DG is in charge of the daily management of KeRRA and a vacancy in that position would cripple the management and sabotage the mandate of the government in relation to the management of 20,000 Kilometers of rural roads in the country.

  • Inside the Sh200 billion tender wars at KeRRA

    Inside the Sh200 billion tender wars at KeRRA

    Bitter wars  to control Sh200 billion tender have erupted at the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) with the powerful cartel at the  agency forcing out senior staffers who have declined to toe the lines.

    At the center of the latest battles is the move by KeRRA Director General Eng. Philemon Kandie who is working for the cartels to kick out Margret Wanja Muthui who heads the Procurement department. Kandie has been accused of being the hidden hand behind unprocedural transfer of staffers deemed as ‘hurdles’ in their corrupt dealings.

    There have been numerous attempts to forcefully transfer Muthui to the ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing, Urban Development and Public Works to tilt the table in favor of Kandie and his powerful forces to bag the tenders worth over Sh200 billion.

    Muthui joined KeRRA’s procurement department in November 2009 and was later elevated to become the procurement manager in 2014 but on February 10 2021 Eng. Kandie ordered Muthui to handover her responsibilities and report to her new station at the Transport ministry.

    KeRRA Director General Eng. Philemon Kandie [p/courtesy]
    She challenged the move in court where Justice Maureen Onyango suspended her transfer and fixed the inter parte hearing on March 15 after Kerra board had on February 10 appointed unqualified Catherine Kangangi as the acting procurement manager.

    Kangangi has questionable papers but she is being favored for the position because she is Kandie’s mistress with whom he has been spotted in many secret places. She can also be trusted as a ‘safe hand’ to oversee Kandie and his cartels’ shady deals.

    KeRRA cartels are also targeting one Peter Gichohi- the man behind the shoddy Sh1.2 billion Sigiri Bridge in Busia county that collapsed after Uhuru Kenyatta inspected it ahead of 2017 polls.

    The bridge was built by a Chinese  firm, Chinese Overseas- Construction and Engineering Company whose manager is Jerome Xzue Hu who enjoys close business links with Gichohi, Muthui and many Chinese contractors.

     

  • KeRRA: Exposing procurement wars of corrupt Kandie

    KeRRA: Exposing procurement wars of corrupt Kandie

    The Director General of Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) Mr Philemon Kandie has come under serious criticism over abuse of office and use of excessive power to control other departments to aide his looting schemes. He is the man behind unprocedural transfer of one Julius Gakubia from his plum position in the maintenance department to strategic department.

    The move was part of Kandie’s ploy to plant his cronies in strategic departments to loot millions in kickbacks through a long list of dubious
    construction companies being favoured in various counties with constructions projects.
    The rogue director and a clique of top managers have also registered firms which are being run by proxies that must win lucrative tenders and their payments made promptly.

    Sources further revealed to Kenya Insights that Kandie is sexually harassing and bullying employees or colleagues of the opposite gender including procurement manager Margaret Wanja Muthui whose case is still pending in court.

    Kandie wrote to Mrs Muthui on Febuary 10, 2021 about handing over in reference to letter No KeRRA-10-71-Vol 2-14 dated 10 February 2020.

    “…..following your release to report to the principal secretary ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Public Works, you are required to ensure a smooth handing over to incoming acting deputy director supply chain management. ….please arrange to hand over all the functions, responsibilities and assets of the office of the deputy director, supply chain management to the incoming officer Catherine Kangangi…” the letter read in part.

    He picked Kangangi, his mistress with whom he has been spotted in secret places to oversee supplies since he considers people like Muthui an enemy and part of a cartel that did not want him at the top of KeRRA leadership.

    Staffers and seniors managers were pushing for an outsider to take up the DG slot at KeRRA and the same to replicated at KeNHA when Mundinia exist.

    Though his plan to deploy Muthui to the Transport ministry appears to have hit a snag after it was suspended by the labour court, Kandie who boasts of powerful political protection from Baringo Senator Gideon Moi is still lobbying to take over from Peter Mundinia, the current Director General at Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) whose term is set to expire later in the year.

    Employment and Labour Relations judge Maureen Onyango reinstated Muthui to her position until her case is heard and determined. This was the second time she was being deployed for raising concerns over inflated tenders for road constructions.