MPs to question ministers Kobia, Kariuki over NYS scam
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia speaks before the Parliamentary Labour and Social Welfare Committee on May 17, 2018 concerning misuse of funds at the NYS. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said the two must appear before the team on Friday this week.
- George Kinoti was optimistic that they have a watertight case going by the statements recorded.
The Public Accounts Committee has summoned Public Service Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia and her predecessor Sicily Kariuki over a Sh9 billion scandal at the National Youth Service (NYS).
Police also started questioning suspended officers in relation to the scam.
The committee chairman and Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi said the two must appear before the team on Friday this week.
They are expected to appear alongside suspended Principal Secretary Lillian Mbogo-Omollo, NYS Director-General Richard Ndubai and all other affected officers in the Public Service ministry.
RECORD STATEMENT
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquartered on Kiambu Road was a hive of activity as officers from the ministry streamed in to record statements in relation to the scandal.
The officers – who were sent on compulsory leave on Sunday by Prof Kobia and are drawn from the procurement, finance and accounting departments – started arriving at the headquarters at 10am.
Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti over the weekend said he had assembled a team of detectives to take statements from the officers.
Mr Kinoti promised to address the media at around 1pm, but later changed his mind.
PROSECUTION
According to a source who spoke with him, the DCI was optimistic that they have a watertight case going by the statements recorded.
The source said cases will be opened in court for the individuals already questioned.
In Parliament, Planning Principal Secretary Julius Muia distanced himself from the issues raised by Auditor-General Edward Ouko regarding the scandal.
“Our department of planning only controls 10 per cent of the entire ministry’s work and therefore the queries raised by the Auditor-General can be competently answered by officials from the Public Service department,” Mr Muia said.
AUDIT
The order to summon the two CSs and other top ministry officials came after Ms Omollo and Mr Ndubai failed to show up before the committee to answer to audit queries by the Mr Ouko for the financial years 2014/15 and 2015/16.
A letter written to the committee signed by MW Ojiambo on behalf of the suspended PS indicated the ministry officials were not prepared.
“We are not satisfied with the reasons advanced by the ministry. The Auditor-General’s report was released one year ago and therefore the issue of unpreparedness does not arise,” Mr Wandayi said.
