Kshs 3 Billion meant for starving Kenyans lost in Ministry of Devolution

by Adrian Opiyo · July 30, 2019

The Ministry of devolution has experienced a lot of setbacks since the 2010 constitution was implemented. Squabbles in the Ministry started during the reign of then Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru now Kirinyaga County governor and newly wife to city lawyer Mr Kamotho Waiganjo. During her time back in 2015 corruption claims were made in the Ministry of Devolution and this was due to loss of Kshs 791 million from the National Youth Service (NYS). The pressure made her resign from the post after advice from her doctor. The Deputy President Dr William Ruto claimed that she had not resigned but was sacked due to the NYS scandal.

Following her resignation, Anne Waiguru was replaced by Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri who has since gone to head the Ministry of Agriculture. Reports from the Auditor General Mr Edward Ouko now shows that ministry is failing to account for Kshs 3 billion; money that was purposed for relief food in the North Eastern Counties that were facing starvation. The auditor’s claim is in the financial report of 2018 presented to the National Assembly which showed some inconsistencies in the relief food stuff receipts and distribution. This provided a judgment that relief food that was to reach the intended persons did not reach the starving Kenyans. In 2018, reports indicated that at least 9 Kenyans had died from hunger related complications.

According to Mr Edward Ouko only procurement receipts of the relief goods were presented to him but those for distribution to beneficiaries and the basis of their distribution wasn’t provided. This is what he had to say, “There is nothing to show that the foodstuff was received by the beneficiaries. There was no documentation on how the needy persons were identified and hence no support of how the quantities of various destinations were determined.”

With the current corruption crack downs in the country by the DPP Noordin Haji, if it happens that the Devolution Ministry fails to provide any evidence in its support. Last week CS Henry Rotich and his PS were arrested for the lost of Ksh 19 billion Kimwarer and Arror Dams Scandal. Yesterday Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu and his wife were arrested due to illegal tender amounting to Ksh 588 million and they are in court today to respond to the charges.