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The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) has opened an investigation into controversial helicopter leasing contracts awarded by the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), amid allegations of inflated pricing and flawed tendering processes.
Probe revealed that the tenders, worth over Sh200 million, were awarded to a little known aviation firm without open competitive bidding.
The helicopters were allegedly intended for emergency response, VIP transport, and aerial surveillance at key airports.
PPRA said it had received whistleblower reports pointing to irregularities in the award process.
“We’ve launched an inquiry to establish whether procurement laws were followed. Initial red flags suggest possible manipulation of the tender specifications,” said PPRA spokesperson Anne Kamau.
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The aviation firm in question reportedly lacks the operational track record to handle such sensitive contracts.KAA say the deal was fast tracked without board approval.
KAA has not responded publicly to the probe, but senior procurement and finance officers have already been summoned for questioning.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is also said to be monitoring the developments.
