Lands Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome has disputed reports alleging that Turkish businessman Harun Aydin has won a tender to construct affordable housing units.

Speaking on Wednesday, February 12, Wahome said the businessman only placed a bid for a tender but was declined by the government.

"Because our tendering procurement process is public and guided by the law, we are expected to do due diligence. The case you have referred to I do not know where you have got it from and I will seek to find out," said the Lands CS.

Wahome highlighted that the government does its due diligence before awarding tenders to avoid being involved with individuals linked to money laundering.

"We do fact-finding and due diligence so that we don’t get people doing money laundering around with... money that is not clear. You know we have very tight regulations on financial reporting, "Wahome added.

Her clarification comes after reports emerged online that Aydin through his company MHOA Africa Limited had secured a tender to construct 100,000 houses under the Affordable Housing Programme.

Aydin was deported in August 2021 after he was arrested by security agencies moments after landing in Kenya from Uganda over links to money laundering and terrorism financing.

President William Ruto defended the Turkish national as a reputable businessman whom he helped secure a Sh15 billion loan to set up a business in Uganda.

"Turkish investor, Aydin Harun, is a victim of top-down arrogance bred by patronage & cartels that criminalise enterprise. Importers' goods declared contraband, Africa spirits closed, keroche harassed, now investor with valid papers labelled terrorist. Tragedy of political pettiness," he tweeted then.