Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has asked the board of Athi Water Works Development Agency to suspend its Chief Executive Officer Eng. Michael Thuita.

Koskei has called for the suspension of Michael Thuita over alleged irregularities in the award of tenders for the construction of Ruiru II, Karimenu, and Kitui Matuu water projects.

Koskei’s directive emerged at a time when Water cabinet secretary (CS) Alice Wahome was being accused of delaying the suspension of Thuita over alleged misuse of public funds.

The head of the public service accused the water company CEO of being involved in corrupt deals in the tendering process for the three water projects.

At the same time, Koskei also asked the board of Central Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency to suspend its Chief Executive Officer Eng. Samuel Oruma.

He said Oruma should be suspended to allow investigations into alleged procurement irregularities in the implementation of the Water Supply and Sanitation System for Bomet/Longisa/Mulot towns.

In a letter to the two boards of the water companies, the head of the public service noted that the two CEOs should not be in office considering corruption allegations against them.

Koskei explained that the delay in taking action on the part of the board of directors and the ministry is undermining the government’s war against corruption.

Thuita is accused of awarding three tenders between 2012 and 2018, valued at billions of shillings without following the legal procedures.

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Thuita first awarded the Karimenu II dam project worth Ksh24 billion, then the Ruiru II dam for Ksh26 billion.

Still on the same water projects, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) on May 31, 2023, had written a letter to CS Alice Wahome requesting Thuita’s suspension over fraud allegations.

However, the Water CS responded by asking the commission to give evidence of the corruption allegations before action is taken against Thuita.