Charles Chege, director of Testimony Enterprises, has confessed to using forged documents to secure a substantial Ksh588 million road construction tender awarded by Kiambu County.
This startling admission came during a court session on Monday, revealing a complex web of fraud involving forged academic certificates and falsified partnership agreements.
The tender, issued on February 12, 2018, was meant for the upgrading of roads across several sub-counties, including Thika, Limuru, Gatundu North, Juja, and Ruiru.
Testimony Enterprises, under Chege’s leadership, won the contract after quoting the substantial sum.
However, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) flagged the company for using falsified documents to secure the award.
Chege’s confession centered on documents purportedly proving the qualifications of his technical staff and a partnership with China Wu Yi Company Limited.
The EACC presented evidence that the academic certificates of the staff, including one from JKUAT, were forged.
The investigation also exposed that the documents claiming a collaboration with the Chinese firm were fabricated, with fake letterheads and signatures.
In his defense, Chege admitted to the forgeries but insisted that his company had successfully completed the contracted work.
He argued that despite the fraudulent means of securing the tender, Testimony Enterprises fulfilled its obligations and was only seeking the payment due for services rendered. Chege also noted that Kiambu County owed him an additional Sh170 million in pending bills.
Chege’s defense centered on the assertion that the company fulfilled its contractual obligations, despite the fraudulent means used to secure the tender.
The case against Chege, former Governor Waititu, his wife Wangari, and co-director Beth Wangeci Mburu, as well as other associates, has drawn significant attention.
The court had previously determined that the accused had a case to answer, leading to their current stage of presenting their defenses.
This follows the prosecution’s closure of its case last year after calling 32 witnesses.
