Members of Parliament on Thursday, May 11, questioned the motive of Director-General of Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) Beatrice Nyamwamu exiting office a day before she was summoned to answer irregularities within the Authority.
Instead, acting DG Willies Audi appeared before the Public Investments Committee on Social Services, Administration and Agriculture members to answer the queries.
MPs from the committee raised fears that the change of the Director-General was more of a design than by accident.
In particular, Maragua MP Alice Wamaua speculated that the move would be a plot to delay the probe in the Authority's irregular dealings.
“How can the entity ensure they are out of the cycle of acting positions? The Committee needs to be sure that it is dealing with someone who will be available in the near future to respond to matters raised by the committee," she wondered.
Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, who chairs the committee, questioned whether the acting DG could answer all queries relating to the DG's office.
"Has the outgoing CEO handed over to you, do you have the instruments of the office?” Wangwe questioned the new DG.
In his defence, Audi argued that he had attended previous meetings with the Committee as scheduled.
Further, former MP Connelly Serem, who chairs the new AFA board, informed the Committee that the former DG was recalled to the Ministry of Agriculture after her tenure at AFA ended.
The Committee vice-chair, Saboti legislator, Caleb Amisi, advised Audi to familiarise himself with the matters before the next probe slated for June 14, 2023, and June 15, 2023.
Audit reports revealed inconsistencies in the dealings involving a lack of a title deed worth an estimated Ksh1.28 billion and a dispute with a private developer on land worth Ksh695 million.
Another piece of land in question, was based in Embakasi, Nairobi, worth Ksh1.6 billion, which remained unutilised.
Further, according to the Auditor General, AFA lost Ksh52 million in a defunct bank. The Authority was also placed on the spot for irregular payments made to sugar farmers worth Ksh500 million.
