Controller of Budget (CoB) Margaret Nyakang'o, on Tuesday, March 7, exposed how she was forced to sign out Ksh 15 billion just days before the August 9, 2022 General Election.
While appearing before the Parliamentary Public Petitions Committee, Nyakang'o revealed the intrigues that led to the disbursement of the amount.
She alleged she was under duress to approve Ksh15 billion days before the General Election.
Nyakang'os confession was also backed by documents tabled in parliament, which allegedly showed a private chat between her and an ex-cabinet secretary.
The shared chats backed her allegation that she was coerced over months to release money under unclear circumstances, with the last batch paid out four days before the General Election.
"We are intending to do Supp 2, and we need you to approve this for us immediately. These projects are security-related, and a contractor abandoning the site due to non-payment.
"There is extreme urgency and I may ask the boss to call you if need be," the ex-CS reportedly told Nyakang'o on April 13, 2022.
The ex-CS went further to send a document requesting Ksh1 billion to be released to the presidency.
With the CoB not responding to the chats, the ex-CS pleaded by remarking, "Please help us urgently clear this to enable us to deal with the challenges of petroleum."
Apart from the Ksh1 billion for the presidency, the ex-CS further requested Nyakang'o on August 4, 2022, to facilitate similar approvals for the Infrastructure Ministry for Ksh8 billion and Ksh2 billion.
Again, the ex-CS threatened to involve his boss should the CoB not expedite the matter without approval before 4:00 PM.
A dumbfounded Nyakong'o exclaimed, "Are you saying we have twenty-six minutes to complete the process?"
She was told in reply, "The boss just called and I assured him that I have spoken to you and you promised before end of the day and I know he will call again."
A reluctant Nyakang'o revealed that she could not approve as she was out of the office. She was told, "You need to devise how to deal with it. I am sorry but try."
The revelations gave credence to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's assertion that during the transition period, Kenya lost Ksh16 billion.
"There was Ksh10 billion that was purportedly used to pay some contractors. Money was being brought in cartons and flew with choppers to peoples,” Gachagua, on March 4, revealed how part of the loot got lost.
On March 6, he threatened to expose the names of individuals involved in the wanton looting.
"These people robbed the nation. In the next few days, I will be releasing details of billions of shillings looted from public coffers in the last three months of the Uhuru administration and announce the cabinet secretaries responsible so that Kenyans can know," he threatened.
The ex-CS mentioned was yet to respond to the allegations by the time of this publication.
