By Kassim Mwalimu
A highly influential Somali businessman is on the spotlight after details emerged regarding his dealings with the Government of Kenya in questionable deals running into millions of shillings.
In documents supplied to Kenya-Today.com from a credible Kenya Police source, the businessman who was three weeks ago apprehended by the multi agency team, has been evading taxes over a period of time.
“The man was called to the Kenya revenue Authority (KRA) after a snitch at the Kenya Police exposed him for various reasons including repacking cereals meant for relief food in the country,” says our source at the KRA who has vowed to expose the businessman for his corrupt deeds.
Mohammed Diwa, the owner of Pure Commodities Supplies Limited has over the time won big government tenders worth millions of shillings but is said to be circumventing the law using friends at the tax agency and other senior government officials.
In October2019, Diwa’s other company HH Spices and Cereals was granted tender by the Ministry of Devolution and ASALs to supply Basmati Rice.
In an award letter, Isaac Githui writes to Diwa’s company requesting it make the delivery of 6,300 bags of 50kg rice.
“This is to request you to supply the Ministry with five thousand (6,300) bags 50kgrive at the current contract price of Sh5,000 per bag (LPO 009802). Payment for this shall be made from relief fuds provided in Financial Year 2019/2020,” saysthe letter.
However, there was a a discrepancy in the figure and digits for the contract.
The commodity was to be delivered at the National Cereals and Produce stares in Nairobi as per the letter.
In another communication Diwa, trading under another company Turkwell River Mexican Beans Farm, accepts a tender award to supply Kenya Police Service with dry food stuff, fruits, vegetable, wood fuel and charcoal.
”We also accept the prices stated unconditionally and also accept to terms and conditions of the offer and we are ready to sign the contract after the lapse of 14 days as stated in your letter,” says the letter to PS Interior and Coordination of national Government Karanja Kibicho.
But the story of the contarct is spiced with other allegations that include repackaging relief food, something that DCI officers are currently investigating.
The businessman is further accused of using a warehouse in Nairobi’s Industrial Area which is not gazetted against government rules which state that the same should be stored in a bonded warehouse.
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