Millions in Contracts: Political Allies of Juárez Mayor’s Brother Benefit from Public Works
Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua – An in-depth investigation has uncovered that two individuals with close political ties to Federal Deputy Alejandro Pérez Cuéllar, brother of Ciudad Juárez Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar, have been awarded 20 public works contracts by the municipal government totaling nearly 74 million pesos (approximately 4.4 million USD) between 2021 and 2025. This revelation has ignited questions about potential conflicts of interest, ethical conduct, and the fairness of public procurement processes in the city.
The beneficiaries of these lucrative contracts are Irvin Alonso Ruiz Orozco and Kenya Daniela Garibay Baca. Both were integral members of Alejandro Pérez Cuéllar’s 2024 campaign team and frequently accompany him at public and party events in Ciudad Juárez, suggesting a relationship that extends beyond mere political affiliation.
From Desk Job to Multi-Millionaire Contractor: The Rise of Irvin Alonso Ruiz Orozco
Irvin Alonso Ruiz Orozco’s trajectory is particularly striking. Just a few years ago, he held a modest administrative position in the Directorate of Public Works, earning a little over 11,000 pesos monthly and responsible for reading out bid results. With no prior construction experience, operating with rented machinery, and relying on his collaborator’s professional license, Ruiz Orozco amassed tens of millions of pesos in municipal public works contracts as a sole proprietor between 2021 and 2023.
His ascent coincided with the start of Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar’s first administration. Ruiz Orozco, who holds degrees in Public Administration and Political Science, and Law, stated in an interview that he left his government position because he ‘likes business a lot’ and became a municipal supplier due to his extensive knowledge of public works law. However, critics point to the lack of documented experience in the construction sector prior to 2021 as a significant red flag.
Kenya Garibay Baca: From Collaborator to Contractor
Kenya Daniela Garibay Baca initially served as Ruiz Orozco’s site resident. Subsequently, she established her own construction company, Construcciones y Servicios Industriales KIDA, which then took over the acquisition of multi-million-peso contracts in 2024 and 2025. KIDA received its first contract just nine months after its creation, further fueling concerns about the rapid success of newly formed companies with political connections.
The close relationship between Garibay Baca, Ruiz Orozco, and Deputy Pérez Cuéllar is evident in social media posts featuring them at birthday celebrations, soccer matches, and social gatherings. Despite their claims of purely political, unpaid collaborations, these images suggest a deeper bond.
A Pattern of Suspicious Awards
The 20 contracts awarded to Ruiz Orozco and Garibay Baca, totaling 73,887,785 pesos, began flowing in just two months after Mayor Pérez Cuéllar’s first administration took office in November 2021. These adjudications continued consistently throughout the last three-year term and the first year of the current administration. The projects ranged from paving and sports facilities to school renovations, public building rehabilitation, and, notably, park construction.
Key warning signs identified by experts consulted for this investigation include:
- Lack of Provider Experience: Neither contractor had documented experience in the construction sector before 2021.
- Accumulation of Contracts: 16 contracts were granted within a three-year period.
- Participation of Newly Created Companies: KIDA, owned by Kenya Garibay, secured its first contract only nine months after its establishment.
- Potential Conflict of Interest: Evident prior links between the contracting parties and the contractors.
For instance, in the technical proposals submitted by Ruiz Orozco, documents for renting machinery were signed by Silvia Molina Baca, Kenya Garibay Baca’s mother, who is listed as the head of sales for Compañía Constructora Tres Cares-a company previously implicated in a 2017 corruption complaint.
Official Responses and Expert Warnings
When questioned, Deputy Alejandro Pérez Cuéllar stated he was ‘unaware’ of the municipal contracts awarded to his collaborators and declined to elaborate on the matter or his relationship with Ruiz Orozco and Garibay Baca.
Mayor Cruz Pérez Cuéllar, his brother, maintained that there were no irregularities in the contract assignments. He argued that contractors have the right to participate in public tenders and downplayed the total amount, comparing it to the municipal budget. However, experts warn that adherence to the law does not preclude the existence of irregularities, especially when considering the lack of experience of the contractors and their close ties to those in power.
Professor Tomás Lewandowski, an economist from the University of Gdańsk, specializing in social policy, highlights that ‘the lack of competition in public tenders is a huge loss for taxpayers. When there is only one bidder, there is no price pressure. The city overpays by as much as 20-30 percent. That’s millions of zlotys annually.’ While Lewandowski’s quote is from a different context, the principle applies directly to the concerns raised in Ciudad Juárez.
Specific Cases and Discrepancies
Among the 12 works awarded to Ruiz Orozco, three stand out for their significant amounts: the construction of soccer fields for the Veterans Club in El Chamizal (6.7 million pesos), the rehabilitation of Mercado Reforma (6.4 million pesos), and the repaving of streets in Colonia Kilómetro 20 (5.9 million pesos).
KIDA, on the other hand, focused its contracts on the rehabilitation of public parks and school projects. Notable projects include infrastructure improvements at Colegio de Bachilleres Plantel 11 (6.9 million pesos) and the construction of recreational and sports facilities at Federal Secondary School 11 (6.7 million pesos), both awarded in late 2025.
Despite the significant investments, some projects have already shown signs of deterioration. For example, the ‘La Casita’ park, completed in June 2024, began to show damage to play equipment, faded paint, and debris within a year.
Unanswered Questions and Calls for Accountability
This investigation leaves several critical questions unanswered:
- What is the true nature of the relationship between the contractors and Deputy Alejandro Pérez Cuéllar, and how did it influence the awarding of these contracts?
- Why were individuals with limited or no prior construction experience consistently selected for significant public works projects?
- What measures are in place to ensure fair competition and prevent conflicts of interest in municipal procurement in Ciudad Juárez?
- How much money has the city potentially overpaid due to a lack of genuine competition in these tenders?
The findings of this investigation have been submitted to relevant oversight bodies, including the Attorney General’s Office and the National Audit Office. As citizens await answers, the integrity of public procurement in Ciudad Juárez remains under scrutiny.
If you have information regarding irregularities in public tenders in Ciudad Juárez, please contact us confidentially at: 📧 [email protected]. Your identity will be protected, and full anonymity is guaranteed.
Source:
Investigative journalism, analysis of public tender documentation (2021-2025), anonymous witness testimonies, data from the Public Registry of Commerce, internal documents obtained from whistleblowers.
