Petroleum PS Kamau denies approving Sh1.9b jetty
Petroleum Principal Secretary Andrew Kamau yesterday denied approving Sh1.9 billion for the construction of the Kisumu Oil Jetty.
Appearing before Milimani Anti-corruption Senior Principal Magistrate Victor Wakumile, Kamau denied being involved in the execution of the contract awarded to a southern engineering company limited to construct the jetty.
Kamau was testifying in a case where officials of the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) including former Managing Director Joe Sang, Gloria Khafafa (company secretary), Vincent Cheruiyot (GM, supply chain management), General Manager in charge of Finance Samuel Odoyo, Billy Aseka (general manager infrastructure) and Nicholas Gitobu (procurement manager) with the Sh1.9 billion oil jetty scandal.
In his evidence in-chief, Kamau also confirmed that Sh1.5 billion was set aside by the Ministry of Petroleum and energy for the construction of the jetty which was supposed to take six months.
Delayed project
The court heard that the project was to have been completed in the 2016/2017 financial year.
“I was not involved in the execution of the contract. l also confirm that Sh1.5 billion was set aside for the construction of the jetty which was also the expected budget to have been earmarked for the project,” said the PS.
Kamau further informed the court that his boss, CS Charles Keter had observed that in several instances, contracts at the ministry are awarded without an approved budget contrary to the Public Finance Management Act 2012 and Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act 2015.
The court also heard that the Ministry had sought Sh13 billion in respect to seven projects including the Kisumu jetty.
The PS added that the Kisumu Oil Jetty had sought Sh1.4 billion for the project.
In the case Sang and five others officials of the KPC are facing several charges including abuse of office, engaging in a project without prior planning and willful failure to comply with applicable procedures and guidelines relating to the management of public funds.
