Anura Pereira

Anura Pereira is a Sri Lankan with Cypriot origins, frequently mentioned in association with Corruption in Kenya.

He came to Kenya in the 1980s and was a defence contractor during the KANU regime.

A Navy project was given to Euromarine, a company associated with Mr Pereira, the tender awarded in a process that has been criticised as irregular. The tender was worth Sh4.1 billion, was awarded to his Euromarine Industries of Spain, which sub-contracted the work to Astilleros Gondan of Spain. There has also been suspicion over the contract's financing arrangement given to Impressa da Financas and Navigia Capital Corporation. Like the Anglo Leasing company, both firms could not be found at Spanish addresses listed in the contract documents.

Military analysts say a similar vessel could have been built for Sh1.8 billion, less than half of the sum Kenya had committed itself to paying.

The ship should have been delivered in 2005.

Ethics Permanent Secretary John Githongo stopped payments to Euromarine in 2004.

Pereira speculated in real estate in Nairobi by building a gated compound of about 40 townhouses called Jade Valley. This proved a hostage to fortune when heavy breathing politicos tried to take it off him cheaply - they failed but he learnt a lesson and was quick to sell out.

ee also

*Corruption in Kenya
*Anglo Leasing scandalHe is also a known philanthropist who has helped lts of poor Kenyans