{UAH} Edmund/Pojim/WBK: Standard Digital News - Suspect in NYS case claims police didn't account for millions seized at homes
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Standard Digital News - Suspect in NYS case claims police didn't account for millions seized at homes
Suspect in NYS case claims police didn't account for millions seized at homes
By Cyrus Ombati
Updated Monday, January 4th 2016 at 00:00 GMT +3
A suspect in the Sh791 million National Youth Service scandal has claimed that millions seized by police at the homes of her colleagues were not declared.
The controversy forced Anne Waiguru to climb down from the helm of the Devolution and Planning ministry.
Speaking on the basis of being knowledgeable on what transpired during the raid, the suspect, who is also among those in the dock, questioned the circumstances under which the cash seized 'disappeared'.
According to Jane Wangeci Gichuki, a supply chain management assistant, who is one of the officers charged alongside suspended Planning Principal Secretary Peter Mangiti and NYS Director General Nelson Githinji, the cash loads were collected from the homes of two female suspects in the July 20, 2015 early morning raid. This was the initial raid by police, which was to be followed by another led by anti-graft detectives in December.
"When searches were conducted on the premises of two lady suppliers, a total of Sh130 million was collected by the police. One lady was found with Sh80 million, while the other one was found with Sh50 million," claimed Ms Wangeci in an interview.
She alleged the cash seizure was not acknowledged in the inventory that was entered by the officers. She also made other stunning claims, arguing that what has come to public domain on the NYS scandal was only the tip of the iceberg.
But head of Banking Fraud Joseph Mugwanja said he is not aware of the claims and would welcome more information on the same. "I am not aware. If indeed that is true, let her come to my office or go anywhere and lodge a complaint," said Mugwanja.
"Just refer her to my office and even give her my number," he told The Standard.
The main suppliers mentioned in the saga included Regina Mungai, Josephine Kabura, Peter Omari and Caroline Njambi.
The women suppliers at NYS are said to have explained to police the money was meant to pay suppliers, who had delivered materials for projects in Kibera.
They again claimed through emissaries yesterday that the money found in their homes was for paying suppliers. "They don't want to say much but they insist the money was to pay suppliers. How would you pay someone delivering sand, maize and murram? Write a cheque or wire money? The suppliers wanted cash and that was why they had the money," explained an emissary of both women.
EACC PROBE
A senior official at the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), which conducted the second raid, acknowledged the claims were serious and would be investigated if an official complaint was lodged.
"That is a serious matter that can be probed and action taken if there is an official complaint lodged. Let the parties concerned come forward please," said the official, who asked not to be named.
The official added their probe into the NYS saga was progressing well and expressed hope it would be completed soon.
The commission is investigating multi-million tenders at the service involving six companies, which were meant to ensure its expansion and modernisation.
The commission had also in December raided more than 12 homes of current and former officials of NYS, Devolution ministry, Treasury and Office of the President, in which they collected money and documents but documented them. The houses raided included Waiguru's.
Head of Internal Affairs Unit of Police Leo Nyongesa appealed to those affected to report to his office for investigations and action. "If it happened, we will investigate and take action. Let the affected come forward to our offices," he said.
He added if the matter turned out to be outside the police mandate, they would refer it to other institutions including Independent Policing Oversight Authority and EACC.
At the centre of the investigations has been the Sh791 million fraud and another Sh695 million attempted fraud. Wangeci is alleged to have facilitated the loss by NYS of Sh791 million to suppliers of road construction and building materials between December 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015, "through your act of omission or commission".
Wangeci, who was suspended over the scandal, wants a forensic audit carried out on all projects commissioned, she said during an interview for the first time since the scandal was exposed.
She wants the entire Sh21 billion that was committed to NYS probed.
Yesterday, Wangeci told of how the information about graft at NYS had been manipulated to paint a completely untrue picture of the actual position and details about where the money could precisely have been lost.
EXAGGERATED PRICES
She said she has been living with friends and neighbours out of fear and also for being perceived to be rich and having benefited from the lost cash.
Having been deployed to a multi-billion NYS programme that entailed slum upgrading and youth empowerment, Wangeci wondered why the expenditure of Sh21.1 billion had not raised concerns among top government officials yet.
She claimed the prices of some supplies to the Kibera Slum upgrade programme were exaggerated by up to 600 per cent while some consultants were irregularly awarded contracts worth millions of shillings.
At the same time, Wangeci claimed some contractors were accorded preferential treatment, with one in particular being allowed to transport supplies in unregistered NYS trucks, contrary to Government rules and regulations.
Expressing anger at what she termed as lies and pretence, she revealed that there was a lot more that remains untold about the mismanagement of NYS affairs.
The official is among more than 20 people who have been charged in court over graft at NYS. They have all denied the charges. EACC is also investigating a separate case in the saga.
Wangeci said she decided to speak out because "many Kenyans have been getting lies".
"Let a different institution be given a free hand to conduct an audit on the projects launched and money committed. People will be shocked because the probe was being done in a mafia style, with no independence," she charged.
Wangeci worked at the position in the NYS head office for four years before her suspension. She claimed she had never recorded statements with the police even after taking plea and being released on a Sh3 million cash bail. "My children have been asking me where I hid the money they have charged me with having stolen. I am in pain. They stopped my salary without following proper procedures and I hope justice will soon be done," she said.
She said her problems at NYS started when she was summoned to Treasury and asked to commit Sh460 million that was floating and meant for roads in the Kibera project to purchase foodstuff. "Since I have never seen a road being constructed using powder, beans or maize, I refused to discharge the money. That was the beginning of my problems."
Her three other colleagues at the Procurement section, three in Accounts and Finance and those from the Audit section, were all shown the door.
She added EACC had separately questioned her over six companies that are under probe for deals with NYS. Josephine Kabura Irungu, Peter Omari Otuoma, Ben Gethi, Joel Kanyi Karenju, Francis Kariuki, Jennifer Manyara Mugure, Roda Kavu Makau, Samuel Wachenje, Hendrick Nyongesa Pilisi, Naftaly Githinji, Ruth Njeri Hihu, Charles Onsase Nyaachi, Mary Wangui Mbuthia, Ezekiel Karanja Kamau, James Gitau Kanuthi, Samuel Kilonzi, Fredrick Okello Nasiche, among others have been charged with stealing Sh791 million.
The Asset Recovery Agency has initiated asset recovery proceedings on eight people in respect of the stolen funds and attached cash and property valued at Sh580 million.
The dealings came to light after the Central Bank raised the red flag over huge sums of money paid to private companies by NYS.
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