Withdrawal of large sum of money haunts TNA

Withdrawals of huge amounts of money bank account precipitated the ongoing crisis at The National Alliance (TNA).

Account details seen by Sunday Nation and multiple interviews with sources within President Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA reveal the party officials fell out over money matters, in a war that has now sucked in MPs.

An audit report obtained by Sunday Nation shows that Sh16.7 million withdrawn from an account at Equity Bank Community branch in Nairobi cannot be accounted for. The money was meant to pay party agents and some suppliers.

Party chairman Johnson Sakaja and secretary general Onyango Oloo disowned the account’s operations even though Mr Oloo is listed as an optional signatory.

According to documents, TNA Treasurer Wambui Gichuru is the mandatory signatory with either Mr Oloo or former executive director Winnie Guchu.

“I have never signed anything  from that account. However, I am a mandatory signatory to the main party account held by Cooperative Bank that received the first tranche of Sh45 million from the  Political Parties Funds,” said Mr Oloo on Saturday.

On Friday, Ms Gichuru said the Equity account had been opened to pay agents and fund raise for the party.

The audit report by Orwa and Associates point to a possibility that some people who worked for the party may not have been paid or their money was paid to the wrong people.

PAY PARTY AGENTS

Initially,  party officials had proposed a payment of Sh140 million to party agents in the last elections but this was turned down. Later, a budget of Sh21 million was approved.

The audit showed 61 per cent of the agents purported to have been paid by the bank through M-Pesa had denied ever receiving money. There was also no account of any money received from “friends of the party”.

Meanwhile, TNA officials have downplayed the emerging rift within TNA, which is part of the ruling Jubilee Coalition.

Speaking during the party’s retreat in Naivasha on Saturday, Mr Sakaja urged those “rocking the boat from within” to freely air their views within the right framework.

“Those of a different opinion know the right procedure to follow,” he said.

He also said the three-day meeting at the Great Rift Valley Lodge is a strategic development conference and thereby does not involve all party members.

Only two MPs Narok North’s Moitalel ole Kenta and Makadara’s Bernard Mutura out of the 10 MPs invited turned up for the conference. Among those who failed to turn up are Jubilee chief whip Katoo ole Metito (Kajiado South), Kimani Ichungw’a (Kikuyu), Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini) and  Njogu Barua (Gichugu), who sent an apology.

President Kenyatta is said not to have fully endorsed the retreat that is allegedly sponsored by an NGO.

Some 20 TNA legislators led by Kajiado West Moses ole Sakuda have in recent days been calling for party elections and restructuring of the party.

“It is not about Mr Sakaja or Mr Oloo. We want a party that is organised with structures and can outlive elections. We shall demand this change until the place is running in an organised manner,” said Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a.

MP Francis Waweru of Ndaragwa said the MPs are keen on a party that cannot be dumped the way PNU was thrown away by the then President Mwai Kibaki.

“We are tired of new parties being formed during elections. TNA must outlive President Kenyatta,” he said.

He faulted the party secretariat for the current confusion. “This is the result of lack of structures. The Parliamentary Group should have been convened and representatives picked from there. The secrecy over who was to attend (the retreat) smacks of dishonesty,” said Mr Waweru.

MP Joseph Eruaki (Igembe North) said Mr Oloo and Mr Sakaja had been “sufficiently rewarded” by the ruling party.

“The question of them insisting they have to hold the party positions is curious. They have other jobs,” said Mr Eruaki.

MPs have questioned why the  money they have paid in the last three months as part of their regular contribution is withdrawn within a few days.

“We want to know how our remittances are used. We want structures that are accountable,” said Kieni’s Kanini Kega.

But Mr Oloo said the money the party gets is for expenditure.