MPs Push for Catherine Kassim’s Ouster Over Alleged Corruption at Kenya Roads Board
Why legislators want ‘corrupt’ Catherine Kassim out of Kenya Roads Board
Some legislators are working on recommendations to the Transport Ministry, to initiate the removal of Catherine Kassim who is the Deputy Manager Legal Affairs at the Kenya Roads Board.
They are attributing this to growing concerns on failed advisory on the roles of the board and alleged collusion with the Director General Rashid Mohamed and other senior members of the board in misappropriation of public funds.
She has been plucked out among the rest, as the link between cartels targeting funds in agencies funded by the board, something they claim is denying some parts of the country much needed road projects despite the funding received in billions.
The parastatal has been battling numerous corruption allegations deemed to be in total disregard of the PFM Act, 2015.
As stipulated in the Kenya Roads Board Act, 1999 “The object and purpose for which the Board is established is to fund and oversee the road network in Kenya and coordinate the maintenance, rehabilitation and development funded by the fund and to advise the Minister responsible for matters pertaining to roads on all matters.
But the MPs who spoke on request of anonymity said the agency has failed in its key mandate especially on co-coordinating the optimal utilization of the Fund in implementation of programs relating to the maintenance, rehabilitation and development of the road network.
It disburses funds to the Kenya National Highways Authority (KENHA), Kenya Rural Roads Authority( KURRA), Kenya Urban Roads Authority( KURA), Kenya Wildlife and the Roads Annuity Fund.
The focus seems to be leveled on Catherine who is being accused of demanding a lot of kickbacks from people seeking help from the board.
She is also a cartel herself to the judiciary and any other arms of the of the government.
The untouchable and long serving lady claims to be connected to the powers that be at the Statehouse and that she is covered against any attempts to remove her.
“She says that those who put her in power are not at the board but at the Statehouse and that her work is to get money and nothing else,” an MP who has unsuccessfully been lobbying for road projects in his constituency said.
A close source at the parastatal added that the amount of money and kickbacks she gets is beyond imagination to the extent that she had to divorce her husband due to numerous money related arguments brought forth by her pride. The easy pant remover sleeps with any man so long he is deeply pocketed.
She has previously been linked to corruption deals in conjunction with DG Rashid Mohamed.
The two allegedly colluded with Vickers Security Services to secure a lucrative security contract.
This prompted Lavington Security Limited to challenge the award of the tender, throwing the board’s operations into disarray.
This contract involved security for KRB headquarters and regional offices for 12 months, with a possible one-year extension based on performance.
The tender, numbered KRB/T/12/2023-2024 had a deadline for applications on June 14, 2024.
Several firms competed for the contract, including Vickers Security, Lavington Security, and Hounslow Security.
Mismanagement at the board saw the government push for its restructuring, to make it the apex body charged with standards of how roads will be constructed.
Under the planned reforms, the board will also be charged with the responsibility of upholding standards at which roads are maintained, ensuring that construction works are done to the best-required levels.
The state corporation established under the Kenya Roads Board Act No. 7 of 1999 has been overseeing the road network in Kenya and coordinating maintenance, rehabilitation and development funded by the Kenya Roads Board Fund.
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