MPs query bribe claim in court car purchase

The Public Accounts Committee has demanded a list of 108 vehicles worth Sh561 million bought by the Judiciary after claims that a former top official was bribed to influence the purchase.

PAC chairman Ababu Namwamba (Budalangi) and member Junet Mohammed (Suna East) said one of the witnesses interviewed claimed that a former official at the Judiciary was given a car.

The matter came up at a meeting with top Judiciary officials led by Chief Registrar Anne Amadi to discuss questions arising from the Auditor General’s report for 2012/2013.

The query by the auditor was that of the Sh561 million spent on the vehicles from CMC Motors and DT Dobie, payment vouchers for Sh500 million were not provided.

'KICKBACK'

Ms Amadi said the vouchers were eventually presented but the MPs said the matter went beyond that because of the information they gathered as they looked into a special audit report earlier in the year.

“A witness came and told us someone was given a vehicle as kickback for that deal,” said Mr Namwamba.

Mr Mohammed said given the magnitude of the bribery claim, the committee needed to assure itself that all the cars said to have been bought were delivered and registered in the Judiciary’s name.

The committee was also angered by the auditor’s finding that the Judiciary Training Institute spent Sh97 million above its agreed budget of Sh132 million and what they felt was a casual reply by Ms Amadi.

Ms Amadi had said the money came from other votes in the Judiciary’s budget and the institute was authorised to incur that expense.

“We have found a million and one irregular expenses in the Judiciary and we need sufficient explanation,” said Mr Namwamba.

Mr John Mbadi (Suba, ODM) said: “Spending above the budget is illegal and unconstitutional since only Parliament has the power to adjust budgets. The Judiciary is violating provisions not only of the statutes but the Constitution itself. It is not possible to spend Sh97 million above your budget.”