The Parliamentary Accounts Committee has recommended the prosecution of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma and former Attorney General Githu Muigai among other top government officials over corruption during President Uhuru Kenyatta's first term.
Juma, who served as Interior Principal Secretary at the time, is indicted for a Kshs1.7 billion comprehensive group life insurance cover for the Police and Prisons services.
The committee report reveals that Juma awarded the lucrative tender to one of the highest bidders at Kshs1.74 billion, although it was almost three times higher than the lowest bid of Kshs629 million.
“Much as the provision of Comprehensive Group Life Insurance Cover for National Police and Kenya Prisons Service Staff was particularly required, the Accounting Officer erred and did not adhere to the provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act, 2005,” PAC says.
The report added that “She (Juma) should, therefore, be investigated with a view to being prosecuted, if found culpable.”
Githu is on the spot for approving payment of legal fees for services rendered by a law firm to the Ministry of Industrialization government entity.
The panel questioned why the ministry paid Kshs29.1 million as legal fees to Messrs Iseme Kamau and Maema Advocates yet the law firm rendered the services to East African Portland Cement Ltd.
“Where no satisfactory explanation is provided to the CS, National Treasury and Auditor General within the stipulated time, Wilson Songa and Prof. Githu Muigai should be prosecuted for financial misconduct relating to incurring expenditure without lawful authority contrary to s.197(1)(h) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2012,” reads the report.
Other senior government officers that are indicted for various economic crimes in the report are Cooperatives PS Ali Ismail Noor, Petroleum Chief Administrative Secretary John Musonik and the Registrar of the Judiciary, Anne Amadi.
They all stand to lose their jobs if the recommendations are adopted and implemented by the whole house.
