After NYS, Kenyans should re-direct their anger to Kenya Pipeline

If there is a government institution that is synonymous with corruption, it is the National Youth Service (NYS) which has for the past five years reeled from blatant looting of public resources.

But a number of government institutions have escaped public limelight with most focus being concentrated on NYS.

It seems things might change at NYS with the appointment of former Machakos Regional Commissioner Matilda Sakwa as Director General who has promised to turn herself in if another scandal rocks the graft riddled organization.

“As long as I’m here, there will be no scandal. If it happens, you’ll ask me that day. You’ll find me at Lang’ata Women’s Prison. Nobody is ready to go to Lang’ata.” said Ms. Sakwa during an interview with The Nation on August 22.

NYS’ organizational structure was also overhauled by the cabinet on August 14 in a bid to seal managerial and operational gaps.

In the changes, Ms. Sakwa now heads the organization’s secretariat as CEO which is now checked by an oversight board.

The Cabinet also approved the review of the supply chain management, budgetary and internal audit procedures in a bid to ensure that public funds are used for their intended purpose.

One month later, another organization, The Kenya Pipeline Corporation is being investigated for mega corruption.

The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) is investigating KPC officials for their role in awarding multibillion tenders marred with corruption.

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On August 30, a DCI team led by Director George Kinoti carted away documents from KPC headquarters in connection to the tenders.

The petroleum transporter officials are being investigated for their roles in various projects including purchase of a two acre piece of land next to KPC headquarters in which taxpayers could have lost more than 120 million.

The Ksh48.4 billion Line 5 project running from Mombasa to Nairobi and the 122 kilometer 10 inch diameter pipeline from Sinendet to Kisumu are also being investigated.

Reports indicate that Ksh518 million could have been irregularly paid to individuals for the Kisumu pipeline.

According to a document leaked to the public detailing the rot at the institution, funds could also have been misallocated for the construction of the Ksh 1.7 billion Kisumu Oil Jetty.

KPC directors, KPC board members, general managers, directors of various companies and city lawyers could be prosecuted over runaway corruption at the institution.

Auditors handling the corporation’s accounts from the financial year 2015/2016 are also in the soup.

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“We have started investigations into corruption dealings at the Kenya Pipeline Corporation. A team of detectives are currently retrieving forensic evidence at KPC headquarters,” DCI boss Kinoti said.

For an institution whose officials have snubbed parliamentary summons three times over the loss of funds, investigations into the rot are timely.