John Ngumi, an ally of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, faced scrutiny for receiving $3.07 million from Jamhuri Holdings Limited (JHL) for his role in advising the government on the acquisition of Telkom Kenya Limited for Sh6.2 billion.
This amount, received over five months, makes Ngumi the highest beneficiary in the transaction. During a joint hearing of two parliamentary committees investigating the deal, Ngumi defended his payment, stating that he provided high-level advice that JHL valued, and that he deserved the amount he was paid.
However, MPs expressed skepticism and could not find a plausible explanation to justify the large sum. They noted that Ngumi only appeared in the picture after Helios Investors CFO revealed the amount he was paid.
The government paid the Sh6.2 billion to Helios Investors LLP through JHL without the approval of the National Assembly.
The payment was flagged by parliamentary committees, and their recommendations led to an investigation into the matter.
