Former PSs risk time in jail if lost public money is not recovered

Former PSs (from left) Wilson Songa, John Mosonik and Nduva Muli who risk jail terms if they fail to ensure that money lost during their tenure is recovered. PHOTOS | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Lawmakers set to debate the auditor-general’s report next week.
  • The committee also wants Mr Mosonik held to account for making refunds amounting to Sh55.5 million without proof of completion of works.
  • The committee further wants the EACC to expedite investigations on irregularities in retention funds.

Three former principal secretaries risk jail terms if they fail to ensure that money lost during their tenure is recovered.

Former PSs John Mosonik (Infrastructure), Nduva Muli (Transport) and Wilson Songa (Industrialisation) risk time in jail if the National Assembly adopts the report of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on the government's audited accounts by Auditor-General Edward Ouko for the financial year 2014/15.

The committee chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi tabled the report in the House on Wednesday and the debate is scheduled for next week.

PAC wants Mr Mosonik to be held liable for making payments of Sh392.5 million without original receipts.

NO PROOF

The committee also wants the former PS be held to account for making refunds amounting to Sh55.5 million without proof of completion of works contrary to the Public Finance Management Act (PFM).

“Eng Mosonik, the erstwhile accounting officer, should be reprimanded for failure to ensure that the ministry kept correct financial and accounting records that are supported by necessary documents and reconciled in line with the PFM Act of 2012,” the report says.

The committee further wants the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to expedite investigations on irregularities in retention funds "with a view to prosecute those involved in the misuse of public funds."

While appearing before the committee during consideration of the auditor-general’s report, the ministry’s PS Julius Korir confirmed that payments were made without receipts and refunds issued without proof of completion of works.

The MPs also want Mr Mosonik to be punished for submitting to the auditor-general statement of assets and liabilities under deposits that were still reflecting the debit and credit balances for the year 2012/2013.

ANOMALIES

Former Transport PS Muli is accused of failing to ensure that the ministry keeps complete financial and accounting records that are reconciled and devoid of anomalies in compliance with the PFM Act.

“Mr Muli should be held responsible for failure to ensure complete financial and accounting records and that the correct financial and accounting records are presented within three months after the close of the financial year,” the report says.

The current PS, Prof Paul Maringa, noted that it was true that by the time of the audit, the statement of receipts and payments reflected total payments of Sh161.2 billion out of which Sh5.9 billion related to transfers to other government entities.

Mr Songa, the former Industrialisation PS, is also on the spot for making the government lose Sh3 million in irregular payments to M/s Aquachem Technologies Ltd.

The committee has also indicted former Attorney-General Githu Muigai for questionable legal advice.

The report wants National Treasury CS Henry Rotich to compel Mr Songa and Prof Muigai to provide an explanation for incurring what is neither lawful nor authorised expenditure within three months of adoption of the committee’s report.