Industrialisation PS Betty Maina was, on Thursday, ejected from a parliamentary committee session after members accused her of taking her job lightly.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, Maina was put to task to explain the issues raised by Auditor General Edward Ouko on the department’s expenditure.
The MPs wanted to find out why the ministry's crucial documents were readily submitted months after the 2016-17 audit.
Trouble started when the PS contradicted herself by revealing that she could not tell why the department failed to submit the documents on time to the auditors since she was not the principal secretary by the time of the audit.
However, according to the documents she tabled before the committee, her signature appeared on the 2016-17 financial statements.
“If documents were really there and were not submitted, are those documents really genuine or might they have been doctored and then submitted?” Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu posed.
The MPs refused to accept Maina’s explanation and accused her of attempting to evade the question. The PAC chairman adjourned the session and gave the PS time to go and prepare her responses adequately.
"On the circumstances, it would not be right to continue with this interaction. Go back and come when you are adequately prepared,” Wandayi ruled, adjourning the session.
According to Ouko's report, the department could not account for Ksh115,863,748 pending bills.
The auditor also questioned Sh157,972,498 the ministry used to purchase a specialised plant, equipment and machinery but lacked supporting payment vouchers.
