The parliamentary public investment committee was expected to unmask the signatories to the Kilig group, which walked away with a Ksh 4 Billion tender.
However, Jubilee vice-chairman David Murathe, former Kilig limited director Wilibroad Gachoka, and Entec technology director Chen Chao did not show up. He instead submitted a signed affidavit.
Murathe claims that he has never acted as a director, partner, or beneficial owner of Kilig or Entec technology limited in his affidavit to the commission.
He says he was only invited to be a signatory to Kilig Limited’s bank account in order to ensure that Entec Technology Limited, the PPE kit’s provider, was compensated after KEMSA finished the procurement process.
After KEMSA’s pledge letter to Kilig Limited was cancelled on August 5, 2020, Murathe ceased to be a signatory.
According to Mr. Chao’s affidavit, Gachoka and Ivy Onyango approached him in June 2020 with a commitment letter from KEMSA for the supply of 450,000 personal protective equipment (PPEs) and asked his firm, Entec Technology, to organize the supplies from China and provide supplier financing.
The two firms decided to open an escrow account to collect money from KEMSA and then move the funds directly to Entec’s account.
Since the bank could not provide escrow account facilities, the parties decided to open a Kilig restricted account with Chao and Murathe as required signatories.
Gachoka accepted that he was a director of Kilig Limited and that he resigned on April 17, 2020, and passed his shares to Collins Bush Wanjala, who held the directorship on behalf of his clients in conjunction with the company’s funding partners.
Before they can retreat and write a report on the investigation, the committee has summoned the trio to testify before them on April 29, 2021.
