Photo courtesy Advance Africa

Inquiry into allegations of irregular payment claims through Pending Bills amounting to Ksh. 6 Billion to NYS by suppliers namely; Highview Trading, Horizon Limited, Link General, Real Tool Trading, Retego Technologies, Comptool Trading, Jimchar Enterprises, Lizlink Gen. Suppliers, Newtool Mart Tradingtison Limited and others during the Financial Years 2014 to 2018.

EACC investigates NYS irregular spending

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) received a report on allegations of irregular payment claims amounting to KSh 6 billion through pending bills by the National Youth Service (NYS) to various suppliers namely:

• Highview Trading
• Horizon Limited,
• Link General
• Real Tool Trading
• Retego Technologies
• Comptool Trading
• Jimchar Enterprises
• Lizlink Gen. Suppliers
• Newtool Mart Tradingtison Limited

And others during the Financial Years 2014 to 2018.

No evidence of goods or services ordered by NYS officers

Investigations revealed that there were no requisitions attached to the payment vouchers hence no evidence that the goods and services allegedly supplied were ordered by NYS officers.

Investigations also revealed that the LPOs were not signed by an accountant to commit the funds in the votebook as required by section 52 of the Public Finance Management Regulation on vote control procedures.

Further, it was established the LPOs and s13 had dates indicating that they were issued to the suppliers before their collection from the accounts department.

Individuals and companies may face charges

On 14th August, 2023 a report was compiled and forwarded to the DPP with recommendations to charge the former Director in-Charge of Finance, Senior Inspector Electrical at NYS, Members of Inspection and Acceptance Committee, and various companies incorporated in Kenya with the following counts:

• Six counts of uttering false documents contrary to section 353 as read with section 349 of the Penal Code.

• Three counts of knowingly giving a misleading document to one’s principal contrary to section 41 (2).

• One count of conspiracy to commit an offence of economic crime contrary to Section 47A (3) all as read with section 48 of ACECA

• Three counts of making a false document, contrary to section 355 as read with section 349 of The Penal Code.

The DPP’s response is awaited.

Source: Kenya Gazette, 8th December, 2023.