Ministry seeks to recover Sh2.1m from Judy Wakhungu
Ms Judy Wakhungu responds to questions during vetting by National Assembly's Defence and Foreign Relations committee for the ambassadorial post, on February 21, 2018. PHOTO | FILE | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Simon Chelugui has already notified Monica Juma on the need to have Prof Wakhungu surcharged.
- MPs were told the State department spent the money contrary to a circular from the Office of the President.
The government is in the process of recovering Sh2.1 million from Kenya’s ambassador to France, Prof Judy Wakhungu, that was irregularly used to pay for her car during her stint as Environment, Water and Natural Resources Cabinet secretary.
According to Auditor-General Edward Ouko’s report for the financial year 2014/15, the State Department of Water erroneously paid Sh7 million to Toyota Kenya without withholding the 30 percent tax of Sh2.1 million as required.
Water and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui has already notified his Foreign Affairs colleague Monica Juma on the irregular payment and the need to have Prof Wakhungu surcharged.
“This matter has been queried by the Auditor General and in order to correct the anomaly, we request you to facilitate recovery of Sh2.1 million tax refund and remit the same to Kenya Revenue Authority,” Mr Chelugui said in the August 15, 2018 letter.
Water Principal Secretary Joseph Irungu tabled Mr Chelugui’s letter to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the National Assembly on Friday last week.
The committee, chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, is considering the Auditor General’s report.
Mr Irungu told PAC the State department spent the money contrary to the Office of the President circular of July 2011, which only provided for an upper limit of Sh2 million.
