A Kenyan businessman has broken his silence with a disturbing account that points to alleged corruption at the heart of a key public institution. He claims a Homa Bay region KERRA manager, Mr. Calvince Thomas, used his office, influence, and fear to con him out of Ksh 2 million with promises of road construction tenders that never existed.
The victim describes a calculated scheme built on trust, intimidation, and claims of political protection. His story exposes how power, silence, and weak oversight can turn public offices into tools for private gain.
How a KERRA Region Manager Allegedly Turned Tenders Into a Personal Scam
According to the victim, the ordeal began as a promising business opportunity. He says associates introduced him to Calvince Thomas, the Kenya Rural Roads Authority Homa Bay Region Manager, as a man who controlled access to lucrative rural road projects.
The businessman claims Thomas presented himself as a decisive authority within KERRA. He allegedly spoke with confidence about procurement timelines, project allocations, and internal processes. The victim says Thomas insisted he had influence over who won tenders in Homa Bay County.
Their discussions focused on road works in Ndhiwa and Kasipul constituencies. These areas often receive KERRA funding for grading, drainage, and routine maintenance. The victim says Thomas framed the projects as already lined up and waiting for “trusted contractors.”
The complainant admits no written contract existed. Instead, he says Thomas relied on verbal assurances, official language, and his senior title to build trust. The victim claims Thomas also hinted at powerful backing, which discouraged questions and resistance.
That trust, the businessman says, proved costly.
Cash Payments and a Carefully Planned Meeting
The victim states that on October 30, 2023, he met Thomas at Willow Garden in Kileleshwa, Nairobi. He remembers the details clearly. He places the time at 12:37 PM.
During that meeting, the victim says he handed over Ksh 2 million in cash to the KERRA Homa Bay region manager. He insists the amount matched their agreement in full.
According to the complainant, Thomas described the money as a facilitation fee. He allegedly promised that five KERRA road projects would follow. Three projects were to fall under Ndhiwa Constituency, while two were linked to Kasipul Constituency.
The victim says Thomas assured him his companies would receive priority once the tenders opened. He claims Thomas spoke with authority and certainty, leaving little room for doubt. The businessman says Thomas’s senior role within KERRA made the promises feel credible and safe.
After the payment, the victim expected formal tender notices, calls, or site visits. None came.
Political Protection Claims and Threats That Enforced Silence
When months passed with no progress, the victim sought answers. He recounts a follow-up meeting in February 2023 at Artcaffé in Hurlingham. There, he says the story changed.
According to the complainant, Thomas claimed the promised projects had already gone to companies linked to powerful government figures. He specifically mentioned Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omolo. The victim stresses that these claims came from Thomas and remain unverified.
What disturbed him more, he says, was Thomas’s alleged attitude. The KERRA manager reportedly bragged that other victims had reported him to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations over losses totaling Ksh 2.6 million.
The victim claims Thomas dismissed those reports and said political connections made him untouchable. He says Thomas laughed and spoke casually about investigations, sending a clear message of fear and intimidation.
Rather than refund the money, Thomas allegedly proposed a new verbal deal. He promised to allocate alternative projects before the end of the financial year. The victim says he agreed out of desperation and hope.
Nothing followed.
Broken Promises, Vanishing Calls and the Cost of Fear
Since that last meeting, the victim says Thomas went silent. He alleges the KERRA boss stopped answering calls, ignored messages, and cut off all contact.
The businessman admits he has not yet filed a formal police report. Fear has played a major role. He says the repeated claims of political protection made him doubt the value of reporting. He also worried about retaliation and blacklisting within the construction sector.
Still, the financial loss weighs heavily. He says the KSh 2 million came from years of work and strained his business operations. The pressure now affects his family and employees.
This publication confirms that these allegations remain untested in court. Efforts to reach Calvince Thomas for comment were unsuccessful by the time of publication. The Interior Principal Secretary named in the claims has not been linked to any wrongdoing, and no evidence connects him to the alleged scheme.
Even so, the account raises serious red flags. It highlights how procurement corruption, abuse of office, and fear can thrive when oversight fails. Contractors remain vulnerable when senior officials operate without accountability.
As calls grow for transparency and action, this case underscores the urgent need to scrutinize how a KERRA region manager wields power. Public institutions exist to serve citizens, not to enrich individuals. Silence only protects wrongdoing. Accountability restores trust.
