Do you remember the fertilizer scandal? This might be haunting the former Agriculture ministry accounting officer and the current health cabinet secretary Sicily Kariuki, a scandal that occurred four years ago since her exit from the office. At the time, Sicily was the principal secretary at the ministry.
A parliamentary watchdog committee has recommended investigations into billions spent in 2014-15 financial year. Top on the list is Sh2.1 billion the ministry purportedly wired to the scandal-ridden National Cereals and Produce Board as subsidy for purchase of fertiliser to be sold to farmers.
The PAC says no verifiable documents have been produced to confirm the actual quantity of fertiliser bought by the NCPB, as well as the quantity sold to farmers.
The ministry is also unable to prove the price at which they bought the fertilisers and how much they sold to farmers.The powerful oversight committee, chaired by Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, wants the DCI and the EACC to swing into action and bring the culprits to book.
“The DCI and the EACC should, within three months of tabling of this report, investigate the payment of Sh2,129,128,557.70 to National Cereals and Produce Board to determine if public money was utilised for the intended purpose and the total money realised from the purported sale of subsidised fertiliser to farmers by the government and allow for prosecution, if evidence permits,” the report states.
Sicily, who was first elevated to the Cabinet in November 2015, survived the National Youth Service scandal that claimed her then PS Lillian Omollo.
The NCPB has been hit by a maize scandal and several top officials, including Sicily’s predecessor Richard Lesiyampe have been charged.
In the new report, PAC also questioned why a lowest bidder allegedly declined to sign a Sh630 million tender for the supply of fertiliser that led to a loss of Sh126.9 million.
The tender had been awarded to Global Link East Africa Ltd, which reportedly declined to sign the deal. The ministry then proceeded to award the contract to the second lowest bidder, Performances Parts Ltd, at Sh756.9 million.
This means that taxpayers were forced to fork out an additional Sh126.9 million.
“No explanation has been given on why bidder No 4 declined to sign their contract agreement. In addition, and despite our request for management to produce tender documents and correspondences relating to the disqualified bidder, no documentation was availed,” the PAC said.
The committee wants anti-graft investigators to get to the bottom of the tendering process.
During Sicily’s tenure, the ministry also paid Sh400 million to Kenya Seeds Company Ltd, purportedly to subsidise sale of seeds by the company to farmers.
However, a staggering Sh300 million was not supported by payment vouchers and other relevant documents to confirm that payment was indeed made.
The watchdog committee says anti-graft investigators must begin probe into this matter within three months after adoption of the report.
Also in contention is Sh25 million direct procurement awarded to a Dutch firm for the importation of certified potato seeds.
The committee dismissed the reasons provided by the ministry for using restricted tendering as non-convincing and unjustifiable in law. According to PAC, there was no written approval of the ministerial tender committee as required by law.
After surviving the NYS scandal, do you think Sicily will be able to survive this fertilizer scandal?