Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji was afforded three months by the parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to prosecute Labour Ministry officials for secretly auctioning government vehicles for as low as Ksh 12,000 as reported by Business Daily on December 27, 2019.
The ministry headed by Ukur Yatani, was accused of advertising the auction of 17 cars in a single local publication, instead of at least two dailies as provided for in the constitution.
In a report that was released by PAC on December 5 prior to parliament's break for the holiday, the legislators asked Yatani to take action against the ministry's Principal Secretary Peter Tum, and other officers identified by the Auditor-General's office for questionable collaboration in the tendering process.
“The DPP should move with speed and prosecute all those found to be culpable in the irregular disposal of the vehicles,” PAC chairperson Opiyo Wandayi stated.
"The CS should discipline the accounting officer and the officers involved in the disposal of the assets contrary to the constitution," he added.
The legislators highlighted that the ministry auctioned a Peugeot 504 Station wagon for Ksh 12,000. Three Nissan Patrols were sold for a total of Ksh 522,000.
Former Auditor General Edward Ouko, in his report to PAC, highlighted the gross misconduct and loss of public funds by the ministry during the auction.
Ouko noted that a Volkswagen Passat that was acquired by the government in 2010 for Ksh3.5 million was auctioned-off for Ksh 32,000 despite attracting a bid of Ksh 100,000.
“The vehicles were grossly undervalued with some being sold below the bid prices and some attracting extraordinary bids,” read an excerpt of Ouko's report.
A Nissan patrol, registration number GK A 692Y was subject to a Ksh 2.1 million bid but bizarrely sold at Ksh145,000.
According to Business Daily, winning bidders were required to pay 25 percent of the money upfront during the April 12, 201, auction but the receipts indicated that payments were made on April 13, 2016.
