The NASA leader is accused of favouring Safran OT Morpho on direct procurement when he was prime minister. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]New revelations indicate that the National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga and his allies helped besieged French IT firm Safran-OT Morpho secure its first contract in 2013.
Water CS Eugene Wamalwa and former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba have claimed that the former prime minister was at the centre stage of Safran’s tender award for the direct procurement of the Kenya Integrated Electronic Management System (KIEMS) kits.
The Standard reports that the two leaders on a Monday Busia rally expressed dismay that Mr Odinga was now castigating Safran over alleged votes manipulation in conspiracy with the Jubilee government while “he knows how Safran got the contract”.
"In 2012, the election sub-committee was under Raila. His proposal (for direct procurement) was seconded by (Siaya Senator) James Orengo, who was then the Lands Cabinet minister," claimed Mr Wamalwa.
The CS explained that during the alleged compromise, he was in charge of the constitutional docket under Mr Odinga (who was the prime minister then) when he, Siaya Senator James Orengo and Caroli Omondi proposed the company to be given a direct contract to supply the kits.
“We did it and I do not know what has changed that they now want it (the firm) punished.”
He went ahead to say: "Raila knows how the company got the contract and he cannot now lie to Kenyans that the company has a bad reputation."
On his part, Labour Party of kenya leader and former ODM secretary general Ababu Namwamba wondered what had transpired from the time Mr Odinga allegedly sympathised with Safran and now when he is pushing for its exit in Kenya’s elections.
Mr Ababu said; "As the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman, I conducted research on the company, spending two weeks each in Canada and France. I realised that the company got direct procurement through the order of Raila."
The Opposition on Monday said they had "concrete evidence" to implicate Safran-OT Morpho in the stealing of August elections.
Mr Odinga, who is also the alliance’s presidential candidate led the side to demand investigation of the French companies for allegedly interfering with the transparency of the August 8 general election.
"We have enough evidence of the bribes that were received by the companies. We have information linking local telecom firms to Safran how they stole our votes," Odinga said.