After the unanimous sacking of the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperative Society Ltd (KUSCCO) group Managing Director (MD), George Ototo, as well as the National Chairman, George Magutu with the backing of the government over suspected violations of Saccos regulations, loss of funds and conflict of interest at KUSCCO, the state is now targeting the ouster of Philip Mainga’s tenure as Managing Director of Kenya Railways
This is amid fresh investigations by Public Service Commission (PSC) and Ethics and Anti- Corruption Commission has initiated an investigation into the undisclosed extension of Philip Mainga’s tenure as Managing Director of Kenya Railways, conflict of interests and irregular compensations for kick-backs.
‘’Preliminary investigations that have been going on more so on the tendering and compensation for Railways line and SGR have shown that there was irregular compensation from Kenya Railways and the money trail have shown us that Mr Mainga was a beneficiary through his proxies and some money made way back to his bank account,’’ an investigator told this publication on Tuesday .
Mainga assumed the position permanently in January 2020, having previously served as the acting boss following the suspension of Atanas Maina in August 2018 due to corruption allegations.
Although Mainga’s contract was set to expire in January 2023, he has continued to hold office due to a behind-the-scenes deal said to have been struck just prior to the August 2022 general election.
According to an insider at the Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC), “The board of Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) extended his term by three more years.”
The continuous losses and mismanagement of government resources by senior officials at Kenya Railways is said to have rattled the government with the latest revelation by the Treasury that the state owned Kenya Railways leads as one the loss making entities despite its huge funding from the government and international grants.