Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has dared Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and his Transport counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen to come clean over the Ksh17 billion scandal involving oil tycoon Ann Njeri Njoroge.
In a statement dated Saturday, the activist alleged that the two CS may have been in business with the oil tycoon.
He also expressed that he had enough reasons to believe that the CSs may have fallen out with the businesswoman. Hence her move to contest the consignment, contrary to remarks made by CS Chrirchir, who claimed that it belonged to a local company.
"I challenge CS Chirchir and CS Murkomen to stop fooling the nation and come clean on their relationship with Alice Njeri, whom I reasonably believe is their front in the heist, whom they have fallen out with," Omtatah dared.
However, he did not provide documentation to substantiate his claims, such as company records, phone records etc. On the other hand, he claimed that the Ksh17 billion used to purchase oil was funded by the government.
The first-time Senator and activist added that the money was irregularly withdrawn from the Ministry of Energy accounts, having been deposited from the Treasury three times since October 2022.
"As per the Statement of Actual Revenue and Net Exchequer Issues gazetted by Ukur Yatani, the then CS Treasury, vide Kenya Gazette Notice No. 12580 of October 6 2022, the ministry withdrew from the Consolidated Fund some Ksh16,637,588,580 in September 2022, purportedly for subsidies to private financial enterprises.
"As per the Statement of Actual Revenue and Net Exchequer Issues gazetted by Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u, vide Gazette Notice No. 2071 of February 14, 2023, the ministry withdrew from the Consolidated Fund Ksh9,102,983,190 in January 2023, for subsidies to private financial enterprises.
"As per the Statement of Actual Revenue and Net Exchequer Issues gazetted by Prof. Ndung'u, the CS Treasury, vide Gazette Notice No. 9734 of July 13, 2023, the ministry withdrew from the Consolidated Fund some Ksh17,224,718,632 in June 2023, at the closure of the FY 2022/2023, for subsidies to private financial enterprise," read Omtatah statement in part.
Omtatah Questions the Silence of Ann Njeri's Company Directors
The Senator also wondered why the other directors in Ann Njeri's company had not responded over the matter. Ann Njeri and the two CSs are yet to respond to the claims made by Senator Omtatah.
What Chirchir & Murkomen Said on the Oil Saga
However, the CSs have previously maintained that the oil was imported by a company and not an individual prior to being transported to other countries.
Chirchir admitted directing Ann Njeri to record a statement with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) after complaining that the government seized her consignment.
"The consignment was brought in by a company called Galana and it has been discharged. So, we want to know the truth but the case is in court at the moment," the CS stated during a tree-planting exercise in Bomet on November 13.
Murkomen, on the other hand, alleged that Ann Njeri went to claim the consignment after it had been released to owners who demanded it
"The owners of the consignment came with the papers and were given the consignment. KPA's work was to look at the documentation of the shipment, verify it with the papers of those who came to claim it and release it," Murkomen stated.
Ann Njeri & Her Lawyer Cliff Ombeta Accuse Govt
Speaking after presenting Ann Njeri at Mombasa Law Court, lawyer Cliff Ombeta maintained that Ann Njeri was the owner of the shipped consignment, claiming that the government stole it before kidnapping her.
"She was also threatened to return the other four consignments she was to bring. The court had ordered the ship to be detained, but it was discharged. The ship's captain also confirmed that he was threatened over the matter, with the people accusing him of colluding with Ann.
"What kind of law is this? If the government itself is corrupt, then how can we operate? She has retrieved oil consignments on many occasions, so why is it a problem now?" Ombeta wondered.
Ann Njeri claimed that her kidnappers wanted her dead, but she was released after they absolved her of any wrongdoing.
