Cabinet Secretary nominee for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Alfred Mutua was hard-pressed to break down his financial net worth after members of parliament noticed inconsistencies during vetting.
Mutua on Monday, October 17 admitted before the National Assembly Vetting Committee that he was worth only Ksh420 million - a fortune he accumulated from businesses and earning a salary as an employee in the public and private sector.
"My net worth is approximately Ksh420 million. I have businesses including hotels, apartments, and a few businesses here and there," Mutua disclosed.
However, the leader of the majority, Kimani Ichung'wah questioned why the CS nominee had not broken down his wealth like his colleagues.
"You indicate that you are worth 420 million yet on the deferred income and sources of income, you only listed pension and salary from Machakos county government.
"How much were you worth before you became governor? If the only other source of income is pension and the businesses you said you have here and there, do they constitute the sources you have indicated?" Ichungwah posed.
The ex-Machakos County boss indicated that he was worth half his current net worth, a fortune he built from multiple investments he made from earnings in the private sector.
"Before I became governor, I was worth Ksh200 million from investments I made which grew. What I presented were assets in terms of land I acquired from the money I made from the Middle East, businesses that I started and I listed a few companies in which I am a shareholder," Mutua declared.
On his part, the Whip of the Minority in Parliament Junet Mohammed contested the net worth, arguing that a hotel owned by the nominee in Machakos was more than the wealth he had declared.
"I know this is a time when people want to be poor, do not fear being rich. Just tell us how much you are worth because, with that hotel, you cannot only be worth Ksh420 million, that, I refuse," Junet moved.
Mutua confirmed that he was the sole proprietor of the facility but pointed out that he could not include the sum total value of the hotel.
"The hotel in Machakos is still under credit and that is why the value I indicated is much less than I would want it to be. Hopefully when I own it 100 percent then the value will rise," he clarified.
The MPs further sought to know why the Foreign Affairs CS nominee, despite being a beneficiary of well-wishers who paid his school fees, he had filed nil returns on charity and donations in his declaration forms.
He explained that he was a strong Christian who did not like to brag about his contributions stating that he had sponsored hundreds of students to school.
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