Public Service Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia has sent National Youth Service (NYS) officers, who are under investigations over the Sh9 billion scandal, on compulsory leave.
Ms Kobia on Sunday told the officials working in NYS Procurement, Finance and Accounting departments to stay away from their offices to allow further investigations.
“I hereby direct that all officers at NYS in Procurement, Finance and Accounting, who are under investigations, to proceed on compulsory leave effective immediately to allow investigators to complete their work,” read a statement by Prof Kobia.
The move comes just two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta accepted PS Lillian Omollo and NYS Director-General Richard Ndubai’s decisions to step aside for three months to allow investigations into the scandal.
Both Ms Omollo and Mr Ndubai are expected to appear before the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi on Monday.
QUESTIONING
The two are among other 40 people who have been summoned by police for questioning over the scandal.
Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji said on Sunday all individuals working in the three departments as well as directors of the questionable companies that allegedly supplied goods to NYS would be thoroughly investigated.
“They will be required to shed more light on what they know about the loss of the funds. I can assure you that it is going to be a comprehensive investigation,” the DPP told Nation.
“We are conducting this investigation in collaboration with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. We are looking into the entire processes at NYS, from procurement, finance, to those manning the stores that received goods said to have been supplied,” added Mr Haji.
DUBIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES
Mr Wandayi said they have also taken a keen interest in the matter owing to the fact that billions of taxpayers’ money could have been lost under dubious circumstances.
“PAC will get to the bottom of this scam and unearth all the players before recommending appropriate punitive action. So beginning today, they have a date with destiny. They must appear before us and explain themselves; whether they’ve stepped aside or not. PAC will continue to discharge its mandate without fear or favour,” Mr Wandayi said.
“In our letter, we invited the two (Ms Omollo and Mr Ndubai) in their official capacities but now that they have stepped aside, they will still have to appear before us in their private capacities,” said the legislator.
On stepping aside, the MP said: “The least the public expects of anyone linked to the NYS fraud, , however remotely, is immediate resignation. They can always be reappointed once independent investigations clear them.”
SUMMON EVERYONE
Mr Wandayi added that Health Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, who was in charge of the Youth ministry when the money was lost, is expected before the committee in two weeks’ time.
“We are going to summon everyone including Ms Kariuki for their action or inaction that led to the loss of the billions of shillings belonging to the taxpayers,” Mr Wandayi said.
However, National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi said in the absence of a report from the Auditor-General or investigative agencies, PAC meeting’s will not yield much.
“What exactly will they be relying on while interrogating the matter? I am speaking as the leader of majority and PAC being chaired by the opposition, I am allowed to give direction. They should wait for a report from the Auditor-General and the investigative agencies,” Mr Mbadi said.
The Ugunja MP said the latest NYS scandal is not new, but a continuation of the old scheme that was hatched in 2013 at the institution to siphon public funds. “It’s impunity at its worst,” he said.
SOCIAL WELFARE
In a meeting with Ms Kobia, members of the Labour and Social Welfare Committee, which oversights the Youth Ministry, threatened that they will not continue to give money to NYS, which is riddled with scandals.
The MPs told the CS that stopping payment of the ministry’s pending bills alone will not cure the perennial scandals at the NYS. They demanded that the list of fictitious companies that were used to siphon billions of taxpayers’ money be made public.
Meanwhile, a section of Jubilee legislators have called for speedy investigations and prosecution of individuals behind the scandal.
Led by Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja, the legislators said relevant authorities should move with speed and ensure those involved are put behind bars.
“We welcome the move of those who have stepped aside, but the issue of corruption goes beyond stepping aside as far as we are concerned,” Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro said.
-nation.co.ke
