The High Court blocked the payment of over Sh220 million to an Italian firm Gregori International over a contract for the upgrade of stadia ahead of the cancelled 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The temporary orders were issued after the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) filed a suit on July 31 seeking to recover the funds.
The EACC had sued former Principal Secretary for Sports Kirimi Peter Kaberia, former football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa, Harun Chebet Komen (Director of Administration), two other former senior ministry officials, and Gregori International.
The disputed contract Tender No. MOSCA/CHAN/002/2017-2018 was valued at €8,117,869 (about Sh995 million) and covered the design, mobilisation, grass removal, irrigation, levelling, soil preparation, fertilisation, and installation of Bermuda/Pasalum grass, as well as sports equipment in five stadia and ten training centres across Kenya.
According to EACC, investigations revealed that the tender was awarded unlawfully, with procurement laws flouted and public funds irregularly paid out.
