PS: I had no role in education scandal

Education Permanent Secretary James Ole Kiyiapi has said he played no role in the scandal facing his Ministry and accused Kenya's anti-graft chief of making casual statements.

He described the calls for him to resign by Prof PLO Lumumba over the latest scandal to dog the Education Ministry as both casual and lacking in facts.

In a press conference Wednesday at Jogoo House, Nairobi Prof Kiyiapi said the Sh4.2 billion scandal revealed by Treasury this week had absolutely nothing to do with him.

“I found this matter was already under investigations when I came here,” said Prof Kiyiapi who joined the Education ministry in June 2010.

“I came here to clean the mess and not to take responsibility of the same,” he said, adding that he was only involved to the extent that he was the current accounting officer. 

In a spirited attempt to exonerate himself, he added that the loss occurred between 2005 and 2009 when he worked in the ministries of Environment and Medical Services.

“The statement by director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) was casual and owes Kenyans explanation on his actual role and investigations on this matter.”

On Tuesday, Prof Lumumba called for the resignation of the two top officials - Prof Sam Ongeri (minister) and Prof Kiyiapi - over the scandal.

However, Prof Lumumba said there is currently embezzlement happening in the ministry “under their watch and there is no way the duo could continue holding office.”

But Prof Kiyiapi, who said he was not speaking on behalf of Prof Ongeri, said he had received allegations of corruption during his tenure and had acted upon them.

“It is wrong for Prof Lumumba to make generalised statement; almost alarmist statements regarding corruption,” Prof Kiyiapi said in exasperation.

He therefore challenged the Kacc boss to table the evidence that indicted him, “and if found guilty, let action be taken against me,” he said.

In Parliament, Prof Ongeri was directed to issue a statement on the fraud and table the names of all the senior officers who involved.

The Education minister will be facing a hail of questions from MPs who are demanding that the money be recovered and the minister takes responsibility.

The matter was brought to the floor by Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale, who asked for the statement on the scandal involving more than 100 Education Ministry officers.

Prof Ongeri had requested to be given time until next Wednesday to issue the statement but members argued that it was a grave issue of concern, resulting in acting Speaker Prof Philip Kaloki directing that the Minister gives the statement Thursday.

Dr Khalwale wants the minister to confirm in his statement whether the scandal involves the said amount. He will also be expected to clarify the role played by the then Permanent Secretary who was the chief accounting officer.

Further, the statement will detail action if any that the Ministry has taken against the culprits, a full list of all schools where the losses occurred, the heads of the respective schools and the education officers who supervised them.

Dr Khalwale also indicated that Prof Ongeri should tell the House whether he will take full responsibility and resign as the minister for Education.

Education assistant minister Prof Ayiecho Olweny earned the wrath of members after he started laughing loudly when he rose to respond on behalf of the Ministry.

“Why is the Hon Olweny laughing and yet this is not a laughing matter, this is about the Education of the children of Kenya,” the member said.

The assistant minister, however, said he was not laughing about the matter that was on the floor.

Prof Ongeri who walked into the Chamber before Prof Olweny could respond rose to say he would issue the statement next Wednesday.

He was, however, overruled.

The minister said he made a ministerial statement on the matter in 2009 and promised the House that an extended forensic audit would be done and a report produced on the matter.

According to the minister, police were still closing in on the culprits who have been mentioned in the report.

“What we have not done is not to disclose the names because the police said they need to close in on the names before anything can be done.

He said police were working closely with banks because the matter involved bank accounts and police want access to the said accounts.

“They want to access the accounts so that when they make the arrests they know where they are, it is in the interest of justice that we know where there are, this is not a cover up,” the minister said.

However, members demanded that the minister goes ahead to table a list of the names involved since he has already asked police to swing into action.

“If he is asking police to move with speed, he should be able to give the names unless the minister wants to buy time, we ask the minister to bring the statement tomorrow because the amount involved is so large and the services so crucial that we need the statement urgently,” said Gwassi MP Mr John Mbadi.

Prof Kaloki asked the minister to issue the statement and table the names in the House.