Former Environment principal secretary Richard Lesiyampe. FILE PHOTO | NMG
Former Environment principal secretary Richard Lesiyampe is on
the spot over the loss of a government vehicle and supply of tree
seedlings worth Sh40 million.
Dr Lesiyampe’s official
vehicle registration number GK A152Q valued at Sh5.46 million was
reported lost at Mlolongo in Machakos County under unclear circumstances
in August 2013.
Dr Lesiyampe, who is on suspension
following prosecution over the maize scandal, has also been dragged into
the loss of tree seedlings worth Sh34,925,500. Auditor-General Edward
Ouko had questioned the loss of the government vehicle which at the time
had been assigned a civilian number plate, KAY 953F.
Ali
Noor Ismail, Principal Secretary in the ministry, told the Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) that Dr Lesiyampe’s son and his driver were on
the vehicle which was said to have been stolen. “The matter is still
under investigation by the Kenya Police Service. The ministry has been
making efforts to address this matter and ultimately resolve it
conclusively,” Mr Ismail said during scrutiny of the Ministry of
Environment books of accounts by PAC. The team, chaired by Ugunja MP
Opiyo Wandayi, questioned Mr Ismail when he said that the matter was
reported at Kileleshwa Police Station.
“How can someone
be carjacked in Mlolongo, perhaps induced to sleep, and trace his way
to Kileleshwa Police Station to report the incident?” Kuria Kimani, MP
for Molo, asked.
Mr Ismail said the driver was
carjacked on Denis Pritt Road in Nairobi while Dr Lesiyampe’s son made a
similar report to Mlolongo Police Station.
Mr Wandayi sought to know the action taken against the officer
who lost the government vehicle six years ago. “We relied on his account
and that of the transport officer. What would we do if a driver said he
had been carjacked? It’s the police to give us the outcome of the
investigation.
“We also cannot take administrative
action against the driver because he moved with the PS to another
ministry,” Mr Ismail said. Mr Wandayi directed the PS to furnish the
committee with the latest status of police investigations, including
action taken against the officer.
The committee also
questioned procurement and supply of tree seedlings worth Sh34,925,500
to various destinations whose existence the auditor could not verify.
Mr Ismail said the ministry contracted various companies to supply the seedlings.
He agreed with Mr Ouko’s findings that delivery notes were not signed and the seedlings were not verified as received.
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