Committee wants probe on Sh3b for emergency relief

A house committee has asked the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate top officials of the State Department for Development of Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) including a former Principal Secretary over the possible loss of Sh3.29 billion meant for emergency relief and refugee assistance.

In its report adopted by the National Assembly before the house adjourned, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in its report for 2019/20 regretted the State Department has been unable to account for public funds and has continuously failed to support its transaction that amounts to dereliction of duty.

Apart from the then PS at the State Department for ASAL, the committee’s also asked the DCI to investigate other public officers who were involved including the ‘purported vendors’ who made the supplies.

Accounting officer

“Within three (3) months of tabling and adoption of this report, the DCI should institute investigations on possible conspiracy to defraud the Government in the whole transaction by the Accounting Officer in charge then and other public officers involved together with the purported vendors. Upon establishment of criminal culpability, the DPP should proceed and initiate prosecutions,” reads the report.

PAC regretted that the accounting Officer had taken too long to provide the necessary documentation and

Therefore validity of the expenditure and value for money to the citizens could not be confirmed.

“The committee reprimands the accounting officers for failing to ensure that they prepare and keep proper accounting records,” the report adds.

The decision of the committee comes after in its 2018/19 report, PAC observed that the documentation for distribution to the beneficiaries and the basis of selection of beneficiaries were not provided for audit scrutiny.

The committee established that the state department was unable to account for public funds and has continuously failed to support its transaction, which amounts to dereliction of duty.

“The Accounting officer has taken too long to provide the necessary documentation and therefore validity of the expenditure and value for money to the citizens could not be confirmed,” the committee noted in the 2018/19 report on the audited accounts of the national government, which was adopted by the National Assembly early this year.

The matter is also reflected in the state department for ASAL’s audited accounts for the 2019/20 financial year.

While appearing before the committee ASAL PS Micah Pkopus (above) admitted that documentation for distribution to beneficiaries and the basis of selection of beneficiaries were not provided for audit scrutiny.