Engineers from Kenya Power and Lighting company repair electricity near Uhuru Park on October 27, 2021. Ex-Kenya Power senior executives will face fresh scrutiny as the utility firm seeks to reopen previous forensic audits on all financial dealings that have cost it billions of shillings.
The utility firm will in the next Annual General Meeting (AGM), slated for December 3, this year, seek the approval of shareholders to start reviewing past audits.
This is as it widens the purge on shadowy dealings that have crippled the firm. Details of the agenda for the AGM shows the board will also be seeking shareholders’ nod to take legal action against staff and suppliers who may have participated in running down the firm. READ MORE
“That the board to undertake a review of all forensic and other audit reports with a view to undertaking all necessary legal action … including (on) the past senior executives and other senior persons who have served in management in the firm,” read the AGM agenda in part.
The firm also wants to recover the losses through the seizure of assets of past and current employees who will be found culpable for fraudulent trading with the company.
A review on past audits could rattle former chief executives, including Bernard Ngugi, Ken Tarus and Ben Chumo. It is not clear if the audits will cover the era of long-serving former Kenya Power boss Samuel Gichuru, who is facing extradition charges to the island of Jersey.
Mr Tarus and Chumo had been previously arrested and prosecuted over financial improprieties at the State power utility monopoly .
Kenya Power’s announcement comes barely a week after it suspended 59 members of its procurement unit to pave the way for a forensic audit. This came amid tender fights that have hurt the company’s performance.
The move has been proposed by shareholders holding more than five per cent of Kenya Power’s ordinary shares, meaning that it also has the backing of the National Treasury.
The board is also seeking an amendment to Kenya Power’s internal laws to lift the lid on the owners of electricity suppliers.
In the proposed changes, any company supplying monthly electricity worth Sh1 million to Kenya Power will be compelled to disclose beneficial owners of the supplying firm.“The suppliers shall expressly permit the company (Kenya Power) to disclose such ultimate beneficial owner in its annual financial reports and or statutory disclosures,” reads the proposal in part.Tightening procurement laws […]
