The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education on Thursday, April 27, launched investigations against Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) over a Ksh68.8 million scandal.
While appearing before the committee, JKUAT Vice Chancellor Prof Victoria Ngumi was put to task to explain stalled construction of a perimeter wall despite the issuance of the contract in 2012.
Bumula MP Jack Wamboka Wanami, who doubles as the Committee's chair, questioned why the project had not proceeded despite the contracted firm receiving Ksh 50.7 million.
"An audit revealed that, by January 2020, the project had only progressed up to the foundation level, even though Ksh 50,698,799 had already been paid.
"On May 2, 2023, the committee will carry out additional inquiries into the delayed construction of various projects. The investigations will take place at the JKUAT Main Campus," the statement read in part.
In addition, the Committee will assess the progress of the construction of an administration block and a water bottling plant at the Juja Campus.
Prof Ngumi was also questioned on the payment of Ksh3.9 million found to have been paid to four officers who had already exited the institution at the time an audit was done.
The Wanami-led round table also summoned Technical University of Kenya (TUK) VC Prof Francis Oduol to answer questions on the institution's inability to meet its financial obligations.
"In the year ending 2019, the University was unable to make various payments such as payroll deductions, insurance premium deductions, bank loan deductions, Sacco deductions, and other statutory obligations, amounting to Ksh1.58 billion," the Committee stated.
Oduol explained, "The funds received for the current financial year are less than the funds required for our payroll.”
The TUK boss was also grilled over the salary paid to a staff who went on study leave for two years before the management noticed. The committee resolved that the Head of Human Resources be held accountable for the mistake.
In addition, the university don was asked to verify the correctness of rental expenses amounting to Ksh858,000 could not be verified.
Notably, the Committee summoned TUK boss to reappear before it for a second round of questioning on Thursday, May 4, 2023.
He will appear before the committee on 4th May 2023 to provide evidence on all pending matters.
