A new audit report on the Ruaraka land saga by Auditor-General Edward Ouko, endorsed the investigation of two senior State officials.
Education Principal Secretary (PS) - Belio Kipsang and Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) - Fred Matiang'i were reportedly mentioned as persons of interest in the report's recommendations made following their roles in the Ruaraka land debacle.
Reports by the Star also revealed that businessman Francis Mburu and recently arrested former National Lands Commission's chairman - Muhammad Swazuri were also mentioned in the damning report.
Ouko's report uncovered numerous irregularities in the multi-billion compensation payouts made to acquire the land that was, allegedly, already State-owned.
The audit claimed that there was a high possibility that the Ksh3.3 billion disturbance allowance (money paid when the State acquires land on parcels with existing structures and requires owners to move out) was highly inflated.
“Further, the justification for the 15 per cent disturbance allowance was not clear given the claimant had not developed the land. I am unable to confirm whether the process of acquisition was procedural and payment of Ksh1.5 billion made to the vendor is a proper charge to public funds,” stated an excerpt of the report.
Mr Matiang'i and Kipsang's names were dragged back into the highly publicized scandal as the former was the Education CS while the latter was the Education PS during the period.
The latest audit follows a damning affidavit presented by the Ethics and Anti Corruption Commission (EACC) in August 2018 which gave a narration of how despite the contested land being declared as surrendered for public use, the state officials went on to declare it as private and pushed for compensation.
"Dr Kipsang in a letter dated February 7, 2017 to EACC stated that the schools are developed on LR. No. 7879/4 which is private land and that it was necessary to acquire the portion in the public interest," stated a portion of the affidavit published on The Standard.
The National Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman and Ugunja Member of Parliament - Opiyo Wandayi, vowed to get to the bottom of the matter upon receiving the new audit report.
“The PAC is going to exercise its constitutional mandate and examine the matter with the usual diligence and bring it to its logical conclusion. The public must rest assured that PAC will spare no efforts to get to the bottom of the matter,” he vowed.
