The National Youth Service (NYS) has been on the spot for months now over corruption allegations, with more details emerging showing how fraud is deeply rooted in the department including acts of disregard to staffing regulations, power play and several other conspiracies.
NYS, which began as an initiative to create employment and empower the youth, now stands the risk of being regarded as the hub of corruption in the country.
Documents seen by The Standard revealed that Senior government officials, some unrelated to the department, held key positions in the institution and were subject to privileges even as they committed NYS to various forms of expenditure.
Accounting officers within the ministry and NYS are said to be in full knowledge of the irregularities and even ignored reprimanding directives from the Devolution Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru.
Another suspicious revelation is that of officers supposedly from the Ministry and NYS, who reports indicate that they held a four day seminar at a hotel in Naru Moru and later sent a Sh4 Million invoice to NYS for immediate payment.
The Finance and Procurement departments were however not aware of the meeting therefore termed the invoice as “strange”.
About a month ago, 93 officers of the service were given orders of transfer following the loss of Sh791 Million in dubious tendering procedures at the department.
NYS Director General Nelson Githinji, said the move was necessary so as to replace them with effective staff who were qualified.
“There is a reason to believe that the internal control structures within these departments are porous and may have provided an enabling environment for fraudulent activities.. therefore this is to request your good office to facilitate the transfer of all staff in the accounts, procurement and internal audit departments back to their parent ministry and their replacement with suitably qualified officers to facilitate effective and efficient delivery of our mandate,” reads part of the internal memo from Githinji to the PS.
This is however yet to take effect despite approval by Planning Permanent Secretary Eng Peter Mangiti on September 4.
Some of the officers are said to be still in office and were even taking orders from the Director General who had tranfered them.
The National Youth Service projects have now been put on hold in many counties following the dissary at the institution.
