How a Company Used Fake Bank Statements to Win Sh230m Kiambu Tender

Kenya’s anti-corruption watchdog has moved to recover Sh63.7 million from a technology contract awarded by the Kiambu County Government, alleging that the deal was secured through forged documents and collusion between county officials and a private contractor.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) claims the contract, worth Sh230 million, was granted in April 2023 to Filtronic International Limited for the development of an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system intended to improve county operations. According to court documents, the company won the tender using falsified information, including fake financial audits, doctored bank statements, and fabricated employee records, which enabled it to meet the county’s strict qualification criteria.

Investigators say Filtronic falsely stated that its 2020–2022 accounts had been audited by MSM Chris & Associates, although no such audits took place. The firm also allegedly altered NCBA Bank statements to exaggerate its financial position and listed non-existent staff members to strengthen its technical credentials. 

The EACC argues that the county’s tender evaluation committee failed to verify these claims, allowing the contract to proceed without proper scrutiny.

Two senior Kiambu County officials-Acting Head of Supply Chain Management Phyllis Muiruri and Chief Officer for Revenue and Supply Chain Zachary Gitau-have been named in the case. 

Muiruri is accused of approving the award without due diligence, while Gitau allegedly extended the contract by 52 weeks in February 2024, despite no evidence of progress. Although the initial six-month contract expired in November 2023, payments continued into 2025, totalling Sh63.7 million.

The EACC contends that the ERP system was never delivered, making the payments unlawful and offering no benefit to the public. The commission is seeking a full refund from Filtronic and its directors, Bernard Theuri, Chen Ligou, and Martha Wachinga, as well as damages from the implicated county officials for breaching their fiduciary duties. It has also asked the court to cancel both the original tender award and the subsequent extension.

The High Court has issued interim orders freezing the remaining Sh166 million allocated for the project until the case is resolved. The defendants have not yet filed their responses, and the hearing is scheduled for 13 November 2025. EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Ahmed Mohamud said the commission remains committed to recovering public assets, noting that several similar cases are currently before the courts.