MPs to probe energy firm over new posts
The National Assembly will investigate the affairs of the Geothermal Development Company after it received a petition questioning the management of the State corporation.
Speaker Justin Muturi directed the Energy, Information and Communication Committee to investigate the matter after the presentation of the petition by Rangwe MP George Oner.
Mr Oner forwarded the petition on behalf of Homa Bay County residents Collins Okendi, Duncan Ojodeh, Enock Kiche, Jairo Odhiambo, Job Owuor Nyagilo and Daniel Opiyo.
The petitioners have asked the House to investigate the recent restructuring at GDC, examine the recruitment of seven new general managers and look into its failure to deliver 105 mega watts by next month.
The MPs have also been asked to have the Auditor-General carry out a special management audit and a special value for money audit to establish whether the taxpayers’ money spent on GDC has been used well.
MPs were also asked to “make the company concentrate on its core mandate”.
The petition suggests there is discomfort within the GDC over the appointment of seven new general managers and that the restructuring “was undertaken without a strong basis or clear purpose.”
They said they were “concerned that the controversial restructuring was possibly meant to micromanage future operations of the company upon the expiry of the current managing director’s term”.
VALUE FOR MONEY
According to the petitioners, the projected costs indicated in GDC’s revised workplan are questionable “and are not likely to yield value for money due to the taxpayers’ investment.”
Mr Oner said that despite the fact that the petitioners are from Homa Bay County, the issues raised concerned the entire country.
“Everything I have read in that petition is national. The people of Kenya have invested money in GDC. We expect GDC to produce power. If GDC is not producing power many years down the line, are we not entitled to ask, ‘All this money you have used, what is it giving in returns?’” asked the MP.
Endebess MP Robert Pukose supported the petitioners’ request, saying they were within their rights in asking for a review of the investment in geothermal power.
“Their concern is very valid because if the cost of power is lowered, then it means that investors are going to come,” said Dr Pukose.
In March, GDC chief executive Silas Simiyu was put to task by the Public Investments Committee over the manner in which a Chinese firm was given an additional contract in a job worth Sh6 billion.
The matter is yet to be concluded.
