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Newly-nominated Roads Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir finds himself at the centre of controversy as past corruption scandals resurface, intensifying the pressure on President William Ruto and his administration.
This follows Dr. Kipkoech Cheruiyot, a prominent critic, detailing Chirchir’s controversial past on his X (formerly Twitter) handle and rallying support for the #RutoMustGo movement.
Cheruiyot’s posts meticulously outlined Chirchir’s career and his alleged involvement in multiple corruption scandals. Chirchir, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Physics from the University of Nairobi and an MBA from Royal Holloway, University of London, began his career at the Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation before moving to Telkom Kenya.
Newly-nominated Roads CS Davis Chirchir
His rise in government began in 2009 as the Information Technology Director at the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC). Appointed as Energy and Petroleum CS in 2013 by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Chirchir was suspended in 2015 following corruption allegations.
In 2022, he was appointed Chief of Staff in the office of then-Deputy President William Ruto, playing a pivotal role in Ruto’s presidential campaign. In September 2022, he was appointed CS for Energy and Petroleum.
Chirchir’s tenure has been marred by several high-profile scandals:
1. The 2015 “Chicken Scandal”
Chirchir, then Kenya’s Energy Cabinet Secretary, was implicated in a bribery case involving the British printing firm Smith & Ouzman. The firm was found guilty of paying bribes to Kenyan officials to secure contracts for printing ballot papers for Kenya’s 2013 elections. Chirchir was accused of receiving bribes amounting to millions of Kenyan shillings.
Davis Chirchir chatting with President William Ruto during a past event
2. Solar Lantern Scandal
Chirchir was accused of receiving kickbacks related to the solar lantern tender. Ben Chumo, the then Managing Director of Kenya Power, was also implicated. Various suppliers and companies were involved in the tender process. According to investigations, Chirchir and others were accused of manipulating the tendering process for solar lanterns and receiving kickbacks from companies awarded the contracts. Chirchir and Chumo were also accused of colluding to embezzle KES 90 million transferred from Kenya Pipeline Company to Kenya Power.
3. NYS Scandal Involvement
The National Youth Service (NYS) scandal erupted in 2015, and Chirchir’s name was linked to the corruption scandal involving the misappropriation of funds at the NYS, although he denied any involvement.
Davis Chirchir during a past media presser
Despite his denials, these scandals have significantly tarnished Chirchir’s reputation and fuelled public discontent. As pressure mounts on President Ruto, calls for accountability and transparency grow louder, casting a shadow over the administration’s commitment to combating corruption.
The exposure of Chirchir’s past scandals highlights the challenges Ruto faces in maintaining public trust and addressing the pervasive issue of corruption within his government.
